The technology wouldn't be used on spectators, say the sources, and it was tested at the Japan House during the 2016 Rio Olympics where it was used to manage journalists coming and going from the visitor center. NEC Corp is said to be the developer of the facial recognition program. Other NEC customers include the Department of Homeland Security, CaliBurger, Chicago police, and Georgia.

The program hasn't been officially announced and therefore none of the concerns surrounding the use of this technology have been addressed yet. Along with the typical privacy worries that go along with facial recognition software, it's currently unclear whether attendees could opt out of the system or even if the organizing committee has the authority to make it a requirement.

The Tokyo Olympics will take place between July 24th and August 9th of 2020.