A Western Australian woman caught the internet’s attention after revealing that she used her twin sister’s gym membership, which used facial recognition technology. The video sent viewers into a frenzy about the presence of facial recognition at a gym.
On July 20, Lauren Hamden (@notlaurenhamden) demonstrated using her sister’s gym membership in a viral TikTok that has amassed 11.3 million views as of Tuesday.
“I have a twin sister named Katie,” she says. “I haven’t paid for my gym membership yet because every time I go into the gym, the facial recognition says, ‘Hello, Katie.’ So it just lets me in ’cause it thinks I’m her.”
Overwhelmingly, commenters were most shocked to discover the woman’s gym uses facial recognition technology. “But why is your gym scanning faces?” wrote one commenter.
“Face scanner at the gym is diabolical,” added another.
Why Is This Gym Using Facial Recognition?
While facial recognition has become more common at gyms, it is far from universal. Many traditional gyms still rely on key cards, QR codes, or mobile apps. However, a growing number of 24-hour fitness centers now use face scanning to speed up entry and reduce membership sharing. This technology is also marketed as a way to prevent unauthorized access and cut staffing costs.
Unlike a password, you cannot easily replace your face if biometric data is stolen. Privacy advocates also question how long companies store facial templates and who can access them. Many customers worry that gyms do not clearly explain how they collect, secure, or share biometric information.
How Accurate Is Facial Recognition Technology?
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has repeatedly warned that commercial facial recognition raises concerns about informed consent, data retention, and the loss of anonymity. The agency also notes that federal privacy laws have struggled to keep pace with the technology’s rapid growth.
Accuracy has improved dramatically over the past decade. Modern systems can identify people with high accuracy under controlled conditions. Even so, identical twins remain a difficult challenge for this technology. The National Institute of Standards and Technology found that leading facial recognition systems could distinguish identical twins in many cases, but twins still produced far more errors than unrelated people. Changes in lighting, facial expressions, camera angles, and image quality can further reduce performance.
Why Are People Concerned About Facial Recognition In A Gym?
Facial recognition now appears in many settings beyond gyms. This technology is visible throughout daily life, including in airports, smartphones, security systems, office buildings, sports arenas, and entertainment venues. Facial recognition is even used in retail stores to detect shoplifters. The technology has expanded because cameras have become cheaper and artificial intelligence has become more capable.
However, this expansion has also increased public scrutiny. Civil liberties groups argue that widespread facial recognition could normalize constant surveillance. There is a palpable concern that businesses may collect sensitive biometric information without meaningful consent. Researchers have also documented cases where some systems perform differently across demographic groups, although overall accuracy has improved in recent years.
BroBible reached out to Hamden for comment via TikTok direct message and TikTok comment.