Magazine cut-outs and family photos have been used by a Japanese reporter to fool the country’s age-verification cigarette machines into selling smokes. With a legal smoking age of 20 in Japan, this is a very simple, no-questions-asked method for Japanese teens to get their fix.

As a result of tough new regulations, Japanese cigarette machines feature facial recognition systems to prevent being prosecuted for selling to minors.

One system by the Fujitaka firm uses a camera to take a picture of the buyer which is then analyzed for age identifiers such as sagging skin and wrinkles.

The reporter found that by holding up a 3-inch magazine or family photo of a person of age, an underage buyer could game the system. Both male and female images were used with success.

Better get in quick kids, more advanced facial recognition software will be coming soon to a vending machine near you.

Source:
Register Hardware