Amazon's creating a facial recognition system the government can use
Privacy is a luxury that seems to be slipping away from our world with every day that passes, and Amazon's currently working on a system to ensure it disappears ASAP.
According to marketing materials that the ACLU obtained, Amazon's building a new technology called "Rekognition" that's designed for facial tracking. Per the ACLU —
The most common use for Rekognition seems to be targeted at law enforcement. Rekognition will be able to ID "people of interest" and is described by Amazon as a "person tracking" technology. Furthermore, as the ACLU notes —
Of those mentioned above, the Washington County Sherrif Department became a Rekognition customer back in 2017. Since then, the department has created a database of faces using around 300,00 mugshots and even made a mobile app that deputies on the force can use to cross-match people with the information they already have.
As the ACLU continues —
What are your thoughts on Amazon creating a technology like Rekognition and allowing governments to use it? Is this a good thing that'll help to keep everyone more secure, or is it a violation of privacy that'll likely be abused by those that have access to it? Sound off in the comments below.
Amazon might sell an Alexa robot in 2019
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
Have you listened to this week's Android Central Podcast?
Every week, the Android Central Podcast brings you the latest tech news, analysis and hot takes, with familiar co-hosts and special guests.
Joe Maring was a Senior Editor for Android Central between 2017 and 2021. You can reach him on Twitter at @JoeMaring1.