As the use of facial recognition software continues to expand around the world, concerns about privacy and human rights violations have reignited the debate surrounding this technology.
On Friday (Oct. 6), a bipartisan group of 65 British lawmakers called for an immediate ban on live facial recognition surveillance on U.K. streets by both the police and private companies, Reuters reported.
The use of the technology in the United Kingdom has faced consistent criticism from organizations advocating for civil liberties, including Amnesty International, and faces a proposed ban in the European Union under the EU’s landmark artificial intelligence (AI) regulation.
On one hand, law enforcement officials have expressed optimism about the transformative potential of facial recognition technology in criminal investigations, but privacy advocates are concerned about privacy, human rights and the lack of sufficient regulation.