Face recognition technology, the latest advancement in biometric surveillance, has a historical context rooted in physical features and control. Recent incidents involving mistaken identity showcase the potential dangers of relying solely on this technology. American Amara Majeed, accused of terrorism by Sri Lankan police in 2019, Robert Williams, arrested in Detroit on suspicion of stealing watches in 2020, and Randal Reid, spending six days in jail in 2022 for alleged credit card fraud in a state he had never visited, all fell victim to false identification through face recognition technology. The troubling aspect is that law enforcement officers in many U.S. states are not obligated to disclose the use of this technology when identifying suspects.
Biometric surveillance encompasses a range of technologies designed to track and identify individuals through their unique physical characteristics. Face recognition technology joins the ranks of fingerprinting, passport photos, and iris scans, serving as a tool to monitor and restrict people’s movements across borders and boundaries.
In a recently authored book titled “Do I Know You? From Face Blindness to Super Recognition,” the author explores the far-reaching implications of face surveillance beyond computing. The history of medicine, race, psychology, neuroscience, health humanities, and politics all contribute to the story of this technology.
Seen in the larger context of historical people-tracking methods, the incursions into privacy and limitations on freedom of movement by face recognition technology are in line with the original intent of biometric surveillance. The system works by capturing images of faces, whether through static photographs or video footage, and converting them into unique data points. These data points are then compared against existing faces within the system, facilitating identification. As face recognition technology continues to improve in accuracy and speed, its effectiveness as a surveillance tool becomes increasingly evident.
Surveillance, at its core, is based on the concept of tracking individuals and exerting control over their movements, sacrificing privacy for the sake of security. While this trade-off may offer some benefits to society, it disproportionately impacts those targeted by face recognition technology. The history of surveillance reveals its design to closely monitor certain individuals, as dictated by those in power.
Instances of face recognition technology being used for surveillance purposes are not limited to a particular region. Caste cameras in India, face surveillance targeting Uyghurs in China, and attendance surveillance in U.S. schools, often prevalent among low-income and majority-Black populations, exemplify the varying degrees of tracking across different demographics.
In conclusion, face recognition technology represents the latest development in biometric surveillance, continuing a long history of tracking individuals based on physical characteristics. Recent cases of mistaken identity underline the potential pitfalls of relying solely on this technology for identification purposes. As surveillance becomes increasingly prevalent, it is crucial to reflect upon the implications for privacy and freedom of movement, particularly for marginalized groups that bear the brunt of this technology’s impact.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it