Facial Recognition and Protest Surveillance: A Threat to Privacy
In an increasingly connected world, facial recognition technology is rapidly changing how governments monitor their citizens. This technology has been deployed in several countries, raising serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties. One striking example involves Yulia Zhivtsova, an English teacher in Moscow. On March 13, 2022, she was apprehended by police in the Moscow metro, pulled out of a crowd based on a facial recognition match. The system identified her as someone previously detained for protesting the war in Ukraine, highlighting how this technology can be used for surveillance.
How Facial Recognition Works and Its Application in Protest Situations
The core of this technology involves scanning faces and comparing them to databases of images, which can be used to identify individuals. In the case of Zhivtsova, the system correctly identified her, even though her appearance had changed. This efficiency allows authorities to quickly pinpoint and single out individuals suspected of protest-related activities. This technology is integrated with various surveillance systems such as CCTV cameras, to give authorities complete real-time control. For African countries grappling with socio-political unrest, where dissent is sometimes met with force, the use of facial recognition for protest surveillance presents significant challenges. This includes potentially chilling effects on freedom of expression and assembly, as people may be hesitant to participate in protests if they fear being identified and targeted.
Keywords
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