On August 6, 2025, Bogotá’s Movistar Arena transformed from an entertainment venue into a hotbed of violence. Dozens of hooligans, with long-standing disputes and criminal records, entered the arena without tickets and, in many cases, armed with knives and other blunt objects. What was supposed to be a massive event ended up becoming a continuation of conflicts that had already brewed outside the venue, resulting in chaos, injuries, and one fatality.

Subsequent investigations confirmed what could have been avoided: most of those involved in the riots had a history of violence and belonged to high-risk groups. Warnings were issued, but they were ignored, and weak entry controls left the door open for conflict to erupt within the facility.

With digital identity technology, facial recognition, and predictive AI connected to the Ministry of Security and the National Police, this scenario could have been different. Facial recognition would have identified people with criminal records in seconds, even in poor lighting or while wearing masks. Predictive AI would have analyzed behavioral patterns and alerted them to risks before violence erupted. And integration with video surveillance and real-time access control would have made it possible to block access to dangerous groups and activate preventive protocols immediately.

This isn’t a futuristic scenario: it’s already happening in various parts of the world. In India, cities like Delhi and Hyderabad are using real-time facial recognition systems to identify wanted individuals at events and public spaces, preventing incidents before they occur. In China, Project Skynet operates with more than 20 million cameras capable of scanning crowds in seconds and detecting potential threats.

In the field of mass events, the Rose Bowl in the US has implemented facial authentication for more than 90,000 attendees, reducing wait times at entrances by 50%. Similarly, stadiums in other states have integrated this technology with their entry control systems, preventing the entry of banned individuals.

Airports and borders have also taken the leap: U.S. Customs and Border Protection processed more than 300 million travelers with biometric facial recognition, detecting more than 1,800 imposters attempting to cross with false documentation.

Globally, facial recognition technology has achieved accuracy levels exceeding 99%, even in adverse conditions such as low light or partial mask use. Today, nearly 70% of the world’s governments actively employ this technology, and the global market is expected to grow from USD 7 billion in 2025 to more than USD 19 billion by 2032, consolidating its position as a strategic tool for public and private security.

The lesson is clear: at mass events, prevention is more effective—and less costly—than reaction . Incorporating these technologies isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic investment to ensure safety, protect lives, and keep attendees’ experience free from threats.