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“While there is a growing bipartisan consensus against these technologies, the political will is likely not yet powerful enough to overcome Big Tech lobbying.”
- Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
THE STORY
2020 saw many headlines on the topic of facial recognition, including:
- The New York Times investigating Clearview AI, a facial recognition startup that collected billions of photos from social networks without asking anyone for consent;
- IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon denying police departments access to their facial recognition technology in the wake of the Black Live Matters protests;
- The same companies lobbying for establishing federal rules governing face recognition in the US;
- Several US cities, including Portland and Boston passing facial recognition bans;
- Massachusetts governor refusing to sign a police reform bill that included facial recognition ban;
- Co-op food stores running a facial recognition trial to increase safety and spot thieves.
WHY IT'S INTERESTING
Facial recognition, which has found a way into our everyday lives through features such as Apple’s Face ID, has raised numerous privacy concerns. Lawmakers, journalists, and activists have all taken issue with the technology behind it and questioned its role in modern society.
Privacy is not the only issue. Facial recognition algorithms have proven to be flawed, showing bias against women and minorities.
The tension around facial recognition will surely ramp up in 2021, when multiple lawsuits against Clearview AI will see resolution.
2021 is also when Joe Biden promised to introduce a new police reform, a bill that will include facial recognition regulations. Meanwhile in Europe, political readers will debate new EU policy on artificial intelligence and using technology to monitor public spaces.
Looks like we’re in for another interesting year.
DIG DEEPER
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