Years ago, spies, moles and secret agents using facial recognition glasses were only scenes in sci-fi films.
Recently, it became reality when Chinese policemen started using them for surveillance, leading to a number of arrests including for kidnapping, hit-and-run as well as fake identification cases.
The dark sunglasses, which are connected to a central database containing particulars of criminal records, are able to instantaneously bring up personal details when photos are captured.
Although facial recognition has existed for decades, it is only recently that it has reached an astounding level of maturity, adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s deep learning technique.
Like any other technology powered by AI, it has the potential to reduce manpower, increase speed and enhance effectiveness of related operations.
Further, there is no escape from the technology as it can even identify masked individuals, as minimal facial data points are sufficient for recognition.
However, the downside of facial data compared to other biometric data, such as fingerprints, is that the photos are easily obtained without our knowledge or consent.
Typically, facial recognition technology is used for surveillance to combat attacks as well as in creating convenience for good customer experience.
Recently, more users are exploring innovative applications such as the new Facebook function where users are alerted when their untagged photos are uploaded, assisting them to manage their identity, including fraud control.
In India, the technology is being used to curb the epidemic of “lost children”, who are typically sold into slavery, by matching photos of missing children to real children who are alone on the streets.
The global leader of this cutting-edge technology is China, practising it extensively in every part of the country and rapidly becoming a norm in citizens’ daily lives.
China’s unclear regulations, in addition to a large pool of driven technology makers and high citizen acceptance, allow flexibility for facial recognition technology to be adopted in various fields, including financial services, retail, public security and transportation.
Airbnb check-ins using facial “smart locks” and addressing problems of jaywalking to improve road safety, are among the myriad applications China is continuously exploring.
Development of facial recognition technology in the Asean region is limited and largely applied in security-related areas, such as to tighten border checks in the Philippines and Thailand as well as to identify inmates attending programmes in Indonesian prisons.
Indonesia has applied the technology to manage fake news.
Other applications include curbing voter identity fraud in Cambodia and identifying genuine squatters as part of a resettlement plan in Myanmar.
Singapore, meanwhile, has installed the technology to fight crime, in the hotel industry for check-ins as well as enhancing customer experience in banks.
In Malaysia, low-cost airline AirAsia recently announced that a new system using facial recognition technology called the Fast Airport Clearance Experience System (FACES), which will be piloted at Senai Airport, will enhance travelling experience with faster security and screening processes.
Malaysia is also involved in the “Our Eyes” joint-initiative with Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei and Thailand.
Although facial technology brings many benefits, it has also brought up some legitimate concerns.
First, it could lead to privacy issues.
Advanced facial recognition technology is not only able to identity faces but also read facial expressions, including feelings, and, some say even sexual preferences.
The lack of digital consent does not only invade one’s privacy but could also be dangerous, for instance, when involving sexual preferences that are illegal in certain countries.
In northwestern China, the minority Uighur community is under extreme surveillance as the authorities track their every move.
Second, it could lead to harassment.
An example of misuse involves an app called FindFace, where it can analyse photos and match it to the individuals’ social media accounts.
Finding lost friends and family members as well as getting in touch with love interests can turn sour when trolls start using the application to expose identities with malicious intent.
Third, it is not absolutely accurate.
Apple Face ID, for instance, received many complaints as an ineffective security measure when it failed to distinguish between Asian users and family members with similar faces.
Further, hackers claimed to have fooled the system by combining 3D printing with makeup and 2D images, only a week after Apple X was released.
As facial recognition technology grows more sophisticated and advanced, Malaysians might see more of its applications in our daily lives.
However, it is crucial to steer technology development in the right direction, managing the concerns that come with it.
As the world becomes more connected, privacy becomes an ultimate luxury.
Will we manage to find the balance of our privacy needs in theory and the reality of losing them in practice?
Perhaps, the next time someone talks about losing privacy, we should be ready to negotiate, “How much?”
The article was originally published on www.nst.com.my and can be viewed in full
Archive
- October 2024(44)
- September 2024(94)
- August 2024(100)
- July 2024(99)
- June 2024(126)
- May 2024(155)
- April 2024(123)
- March 2024(112)
- February 2024(109)
- January 2024(95)
- December 2023(56)
- November 2023(86)
- October 2023(97)
- September 2023(89)
- August 2023(101)
- July 2023(104)
- June 2023(113)
- May 2023(103)
- April 2023(93)
- March 2023(129)
- February 2023(77)
- January 2023(91)
- December 2022(90)
- November 2022(125)
- October 2022(117)
- September 2022(137)
- August 2022(119)
- July 2022(99)
- June 2022(128)
- May 2022(112)
- April 2022(108)
- March 2022(121)
- February 2022(93)
- January 2022(110)
- December 2021(92)
- November 2021(107)
- October 2021(101)
- September 2021(81)
- August 2021(74)
- July 2021(78)
- June 2021(92)
- May 2021(67)
- April 2021(79)
- March 2021(79)
- February 2021(58)
- January 2021(55)
- December 2020(56)
- November 2020(59)
- October 2020(78)
- September 2020(72)
- August 2020(64)
- July 2020(71)
- June 2020(74)
- May 2020(50)
- April 2020(71)
- March 2020(71)
- February 2020(58)
- January 2020(62)
- December 2019(57)
- November 2019(64)
- October 2019(25)
- September 2019(24)
- August 2019(14)
- July 2019(23)
- June 2019(54)
- May 2019(82)
- April 2019(76)
- March 2019(71)
- February 2019(67)
- January 2019(75)
- December 2018(44)
- November 2018(47)
- October 2018(74)
- September 2018(54)
- August 2018(61)
- July 2018(72)
- June 2018(62)
- May 2018(62)
- April 2018(73)
- March 2018(76)
- February 2018(8)
- January 2018(7)
- December 2017(6)
- November 2017(8)
- October 2017(3)
- September 2017(4)
- August 2017(4)
- July 2017(2)
- June 2017(5)
- May 2017(6)
- April 2017(11)
- March 2017(8)
- February 2017(16)
- January 2017(10)
- December 2016(12)
- November 2016(20)
- October 2016(7)
- September 2016(102)
- August 2016(168)
- July 2016(141)
- June 2016(149)
- May 2016(117)
- April 2016(59)
- March 2016(85)
- February 2016(153)
- December 2015(150)