Key Takeaways
- Facial recognition technology has become a widespread reality, particularly in China, where it is used to monitor and control citizens.
- American companies have played a significant role in designing and building surveillance systems in China, enabling human rights abuses.
- The technology has been used to track and monitor dissidents, ethnic minorities, and even government officials in China.
- The US has also expanded its surveillance powers, monitoring millions of American drivers and using license plate readers to identify and detain people with suspicious travel patterns.
- The use of infrared beams and facial recognition technology has raised concerns about privacy and state control.
Introduction to Facial Recognition Technology
Facial recognition technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, often operating behind the scenes to identify and track individuals. When we unlock our phones, walk past a security camera, or drive by a license plate reader, infrared beams shine onto our faces, bodies, and license plates, allowing cameras to pick out and recognize individual human beings. This technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, with China being a prime example of its widespread adoption. With more security cameras than the rest of the world combined, China has become a hub for facial recognition technology, using it to monitor and control its citizens.
The Pervasiveness of Surveillance in China
In China, facial recognition technology is used in various aspects of life, from airports and train stations to streets and hotels. Passengers are required to undergo face scans at gates and by officers, while cameras scan pedestrians and flag vehicles breaking traffic rules. The technology is also used to monitor and track individuals, with many describing being tracked and monitored by vast networks of cameras that stud the country. This has hampered their movements and alerted the police to their activities, raising concerns about privacy and state control. The use of facial recognition technology in China has been designed and built, to a large degree, by American companies, which have played a significant role in enabling human rights abuses.
The Role of American Companies in Enabling Surveillance
Associated Press investigations have found that American companies have played a far greater role in enabling human rights abuses in China than previously known. These companies have designed and built surveillance systems that have been used to monitor and control dissidents, ethnic minorities, and even government officials. The technology has been used to cement the rule of China’s ruling Communist Party, offering it a powerful tool to control and monitor perceived threats to the state. This has raised concerns about the ethics of American companies operating in China and their role in enabling human rights abuses.
The Expansion of Surveillance in the US
While facial recognition technology faced legal barriers in the US, the country where it was first developed, the US Border Patrol has vastly expanded its surveillance powers in recent years. The agency has been monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious. Under the Trump administration, billions of dollars have been poured into a vast array of surveillance systems, including license plate readers across the US. These readers have ensnared innocent drivers for little more than taking a quick trip to areas near the border, raising concerns about privacy and state control.
The Use of Infrared Beams and Facial Recognition
The use of infrared beams and facial recognition technology has become a key component of surveillance systems around the world. Infrared beams shine onto faces, bodies, and license plates, allowing cameras to pick out and recognize individual human beings. This technology has been used to track and monitor individuals, enabling digital control and raising concerns about privacy and state control. AP photographers have used a modified camera to capture the full spectrum of light, including ultraviolet, visible, and infrared, to show how these beams are used to track vehicles and people.
Conclusion and Implications
The widespread adoption of facial recognition technology has significant implications for privacy and state control. As the technology continues to advance and become more pervasive, it is essential to consider the ethics of its use and the potential consequences for individuals and society. The role of American companies in enabling human rights abuses in China and the expansion of surveillance in the US raise concerns about the responsibility of corporations and governments to protect individual rights and freedoms. As we move forward, it is crucial to strike a balance between the benefits of facial recognition technology and the need to protect privacy and prevent state control.
