Nowadays, one of the most discussed topics is the facial recognition, which can make easier more and more fields of our life. However, experts and lawmakers would like to regulate it more strictly, or even ban it.
On the one hand, it is a service that makes our life easier, since it can make some phenomena automatic or improve the security. On the other hand, it suggests worries about our right to privacy and equal opportunities. Furthermore, it can be useful in states that take an aim at mass observation.
These applications may also help in contact tracking. On the security camera’s videos, infected people could be recognized on public places as well as people who they were with. This way, everyone who may be infected, could be prevented. It can be worrying regarding data protection as well, since contact tracking apps are usually working on a voluntary way and it would be very difficult to ask everyone if they agree with being identified by security cameras. Tech giants, feeling the strong regulations, have started to regulate themselves.
With facial recognition, governments would be able to identify demonstrators or opposition’s movements, without participants noticing it. In the private sphere, it can leave more space for harassment.
Another often mentioned disadvantage is that it is easier to collect our face’s data’s, since it does not need any physical contact and it is more difficult to hide, therefore easier to collect.
In the United States, there are no laws regulating the use of facial recognition. However, last year, several cities banned or stopped facial recognition on public places by themselves.
Those who were against banning or too strict regulating stressed that how useful facial recognition was in criminal investigation and in public security. Furthermore, if the law regulates innovation, there will not be any chance for them to be improved.
The European Union is involved in this question on an active way. Wojciech Wiewiórowski, the European Data Protection Supervisor was very sceptical about facial recognition technologies being necessary, and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights turned our attention on the collision with fundamental rights. According to the GDPR, the use of biometric data’s, such as facial recognition is considered as personal data’s, therefore, they should be highly protected.
Banning facial recognition is not a good idea against modern mass observation, since it only targets a part of our identification. Nowadays, companies aiming personalized advertisements and governments controlling us have tons of methods for our identification. Facial recognition can be regulated, however, it is not going to change the result. Technologies used for mass recognition and data collecting should be controlled on the same way, together, not one by one.
Author: Dániel Bolcsó