Facial recognition is imperative component of mass surveillance. This technology is now common in a growing number of places globally from public CCTV cameras to biometric identification systems in airports already covering half of the global population on regular basis.
State of Facial Recognition across the world:
Recently, the Department Of Homeland Security presented its “Biometric Exit” plan, which focuses to use facial recognition technology on almost all air travel passengers by 2023, to identify compliance with visa status. Studies show that 59% of Americans are actually in favour of implementing facial recognition technology, considering it acceptable for use in law enforcement.
Still some cities like San Francisco have taken the step to ban surveillance, citing a stand against its potential abuse by the government. This technology might turn out to be useful after a natural disaster. After Hurricane Dorian hit in 2019, the Bahamas implemented a block chain based missing people database “FindMeBahamas” to identify thousands of displaced people.
Belgium and Luxembourg are two of the only three governments in the world to officially stand against the use of facial recognition technology. In Russia, authorities have depended on this technology to check for breaches of quarantine rules by potential COVID-19 carriers. In Moscow, there are 100000 facial recognition cameras enabled in operation.
The biometric identification became a common tool due to the Corona Virus Pandemic. It is used to slow the infection rates in China, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore by contact tracing. By 2023 China will become the biggest player in the global facial recognition business. This technology is widespread in Middle East and Central Asia, notably for military purposes. 30 locally developed Kamikaze drones will use Artificial Intelligence and facial recognition for border security in Turkey. Likewise, Israel has a close watch on Palestinian citizens across 27 West Bank checkpoints.
In UAE police officers purchased discreet smart glasses that can be used to scan crowds, where positive matches show up on an installed lens display. In Kazakhstan, this technology could completely replace the public transportation passes. South America uses the facial recognition system majorly for cracking down on crime. They used this technology join hands with Brazil to capture Interpol’s second-most wanted criminal.
