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Microsoft Cheers, ACLU Jeers Washington State Law Restricting Use of Facial Recognition Software
Microsoft cheers, ACLU jeers law restricting use of facial-recognition technology:
A new law in Washington state restricting the use of facial-recognition technology is drawing praise from Microsoft but criticism from civil liberties advocates. The law requires state and local governments to get a warrant before using the tech in many instances and provides more public reporting of its use. In January of each year, judges who issue warrants for the use of technology must report the existence of the warrant, details about what it covers, which governmental entities requested it and the public spaces under surveillance.
Microsoft, which is headquartered in Washington state and makes facial-recognition technology, praised the law as a "significant breakthrough" in a polarized debate. Microsoft President Brad Smith said he viewed the bill's approach as both "necessary and pragmatic" to protect the public while respecting their rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington disagreed, saying the law allows the government to use racially biased facial recognition technology.
"We will continue to push for a moratorium to give historically targeted and marginalized communities, such as black and indigenous communities, an opportunity to decide not just how face-surveillance technology should be used, but if it should be used at all," said Jennifer Lee, ACLU of Washington technology and liberty project manager, in a statement.
Microsoft Pulls Out Of Facial Recognition Startup Anyvision
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
A Microsoft-funded investigation led by former US Attorney General Eric Holder determined that AnyVision's technology doesn't power mass surveillance in the West Bank. Nevertheless, Microsoft said it's divested itself of the AnyVision holding and won't be a minority stakeholder in any other facial recognition firms because it can't adequately oversee the companies that way.
[...] Last year, Microsoft hired Holder to investigate whether AnyVision violated Microsoft's ethics. An October report by NBC News said facial recognition technology created by AnyVision had been used in a secret military effort to conduct surveillance of Palestinians in the West Bank; AnyVision rejected the report's claim.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 03 2020, @12:20AM (1 child)
The problem is that there should be no mass surveillance at all. [gnu.org] If the infrastructure (cameras. etc.) is already there, the use of that infrastructure for mass surveillance is an inevitability. They might say they require warrants now, but as we've seen in the past, once the data is collected, it's fairly easy to access it without a warrant. The real solution is to not allow either corporations or the government to collect too much data to begin with. If they have no data, there's no data to abuse.
In short, this is a band-aid on a gaping wound.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Friday April 03 2020, @12:37AM
Warrant or not, legal or not, if it can be done, it will be done, if the ones who can do it want to do it.
This paradigm is well known by parents raising children. Or "prohibition".
It still happens.
Underground.
Where it's much harder to monitor.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]