Facial recognition is a growing technology that’s been implemented in smartphones, tablets, and computers. The technology, so far, has been used as a biometric security measure but that’s changing. German authorities are now testing facial recognition at a Berlin rail station. The country’s security officials feel that implementing facial recognition technology could increase overall security for the country. Over 200 German citizens volunteered for the testing which involved giving their names and having two photos of them stored in the system.
German security officials believe that implementing new forms of technology into security is the way to go. But others believe that just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. Facial recognition being used by the government could lead to a whole lot of privacy concerns. On one hand, the government is selling the technology as a way to find and identify potential threats to society, which seems like a good idea. On the other hand, one could see the abuse of power that could lead to government control over the citizenry as well.
According to the Associated Press, there’s no word from German officials on how they will proceed after the testing. They first have to see how the technology performs in the real world and if it will be useful for the purposes they’re testing it for.
We’re curious about how you feel about government’s using facial recognition technology in public spaces. Do you believe we should allow this measure of “security?” Or do you believe this raises privacy concerns and it’s something you’d rather not see? Do you think we’ll eventually live in a world where cameras are watching our every move and we’re identifiable instantly? Let us know your thoughts on government use of facial recognition in the comments below. Or you can comment on our social media pages at Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
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