Facial Recognition

Background History

While facial recognition has been in the consumer market for a few years, it is now be introduced to the governmental side. For decades police and security forces have used pictures to identify criminals, but current technology allows for more the constant search for criminals and other desired peoples deemed by governments.

How it Works

Currently, there are 5 countries that use active facial recognition technology. This includes China, Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and the United States of America (particularly California). Uses per country include:

• China
• University security
• Criminal tracking
• J-walking crackdown
• Banking
• Toilet paper theft
• Japan
• Speeding
• Sleeping government workers
• Security
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Border control
• Singapore
• Health care
• Lost travelers
• United States of America
• Airport security
• Banking
• Unknown uses in California

Impacts/Future Growth

It is no secret that facial technology is in the future, favorable of it or not. Many companies including tech giant Microsoft are calling for proper laws to be passed to prevent abuse and misuse of the technology, but as of currently there are no laws of such in place.

Pros

• Helps assist governments in everyday tasks, potentially saving millions of dollars

Cons 

• Strong public outcry against its usage
• Has the potential to be used for the wrong purposes
• Expensive to put in place

Works Cited

Chin, Josh. “Chinese Police Add Facial-Recognition Glasses to Surveillance Arsenal.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 7 Feb. 2018, www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-police-go-robocop-with-facial-recognition-glasses-1518004353.

O'Dowd, Peter. “As Facial Recognition Technology Booms, So Do Privacy Concerns.” WBUR, WBUR, 21 Dec. 2018, www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/12/21/facial-recognition-privacy-concerns.

Prakash, Abishur. “Facial Recognition Cameras and AI: 5 Countries With the Fastest Adoption.” Robotics Business Review, Robotics Business Review, 21 Dec. 2018, www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/ai/facial-recognition-cameras-5-countries/.

Multimedia

https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2018/bigbrotherfa.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4CjU48gD1w

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-police-go-robocop-with-facial-recognition-glasses-1518004353