An Asian man in New Zealand got his passport photograph rejected when facial recognition technology mistook his eyes as being closed.
Richard Lee, a 22-year-old engineering student, was trying to renew his passport but had it rejected when he sent his picture to an online passport photo checker run by the country’s Department of Internal Affairs, Reuters reported.
Lee received an automated message saying that his photo would not upload because it did not meet certain criteria, the reason being: “subject’s eyes are closed.” Lee’s eyes were open.
Despite the technological hiccup, Lee is not upset.
“No hard feelings on my part, I’ve always had very small eyes and facial recognition technology is relatively new and unsophisticated,” Lee told Reuters.
He did get his passport in the end.
