Most people would like to be able to choose traditional methods of identification over facial recognition technology, the first major public opinion survey in China has shown, reflecting increasing concern in the world’s second-largest economy about personal data protection. 

China has led the rollout of facial recognition globally, installing  face scanners in transport hubs, schools, shopping centres and residential compounds. 

But while 60-70 per cent of people believe the technology makes life safer and more convenient in those settings, users are concerned about their personal information being leaked and want more control over their data, according to results released on Thursday by the Nandu Personal Information Protection Research Centre in Beijing.