US Cities moving into real-time facial surveillance

BATTLE FOR WORLD / WIRED | May 22, 2019: The article highlights that civil liberties activists are sounding the alarm about the authoritarian potential of facial recognition technology in the United States, but often in the US the finger-pointing is directed at China, where some police departments use systems that can spot suspects who show their faces in public. A report from Georgetown researchers on Thursday (May 16) suggests Americans should also focus their concern closer to home.

According to the report law agencies in Chicago and Detroit have bought real-time facial recognition systems. Chicago claims it has not used its system; while Detroit says it is not using its system currently. But no federal or state law would prevent use of the facial recognition technology.

A description on the company’s website DataWorks says the technology, called FaceWatch Plus, “provides continuous screening and monitoring of live video streams.” The company confirmed the existence of the systems, but did not elaborate further.

Privacy advocates say ongoing use of the technology in this way would redefine the traditional anonymity of public spaces.

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