Delaware lifts ban on smiling for camera on driver's license photos
Effective immediately, Delaware motorists may smile for the camera when they get their driver’s license photos taken.
Announced Wednesday, the state motor vehicles division policy change reflects an upgrade in facial recognition technology, reports the News Journal.
A prior ban on smiling was intended to prevent identity theft by making it easier for the state’s facial recognition technology to identify motorists, explains Jennifer Cohan, the division’s director. However, the new technology recognizes both smiling and stern faces.
“Having to enforce the no-smile protocol for driver license photos has been one of the most sensitive issues I’ve had to tackle,” said Cohan in a written statement provided to the newspaper. “I am glad to tell everyone that those days are over.”
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