The Rise of AI Facial Recognition Technology & The Controversy Behind It

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global facial recognition market was valued at USD 3.86 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% from 2021 to 2028. This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing adoption of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies and the private sector, as well as advances in technology that are improving the accuracy and efficiency of facial recognition systems.

Facial recognition technology uses algorithms to analyze and compare images of faces in order to identify individuals. It has a wide range of applications, including security, identity verification, and customer service. The technology is being used by a variety of industries, including government, healthcare, retail, and financial services.

Facial recognition technology is also being advanced by AI. PXL Vision shares that some facial recognition systems are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that can learn to identify individuals even if their appearance has changed. This means that the system can continue to recognize an individual even if they have grown a beard, gained weight or made other changes to their appearance.

The ability of facial recognition systems to adapt and learn is a result of the use of machine learning algorithms, which allow the system to analyze and process large amounts of data in order to recognize patterns and make predictions.

It has the potential to be a useful tool for various applications, such as finding missing children. In India, a new facial recognition app has been used by police to successfully reunite thousands of missing and trafficked children with their families. The app was developed by police in the southern state of Telangana as part of an initiative called Operation Smile. It was used to scan over 3,000 records and successfully reunite more than half of the children with their families in 2020.

On the other hand, when there is room for error, it's devasting.

The Controversy of Facial Recognition Technology

The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement has been controversial, as it has the potential to invade people's privacy and perpetuate biases within the criminal justice system. The room for errors to be made with this technology are devastating.

A facial recognition tool used by the Detroit Police Department led to the mistaken arrest of a man in January 2020. The man, Robert Williams, was arrested at his home in front of his wife and two young daughters and taken to jail, where he was held for 30 hours before being released. This incident, which was allegedly the first of its kind in the United States, was brought to light by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The police department used the facial recognition tool to identify Williams as the suspect in a shoplifting case, despite the fact that Williams had an alibi and the shoplifting suspect was described as a much younger, thinner man with a different haircut. Williams' lawyer, Phil Mayor, stated that the arrest was the result of "systemic bias and incompetence" in the use of facial recognition technology.

And it happened again recently with a Louisiana man named Randal Reid who was falsely arrested and spent almost a week in jail due to an incorrect facial recognition match. The police reportedly used the erroneous match to obtain warrants for Reid's arrest in connection with thefts that he did not commit. Reid, who is Black, stated that he had never even been to Louisiana.

It is important to consider the potential consequences of the rise of facial recognition technology. Many have called for measures to regulate, create more transparent audits and accountability, or restrict its use entirely.