The AWS leader says facial recognition should be regulated

The leader of Amazon Web Services defended the company's use of facial recognition technology, but said it should be subject to government regulation.

Andy Jbady, ​​CEO of Amazon's cloud services, said Monday at the Code Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, that concerns about technologies such as his controversial Rekognition program are worthwhile, but that's not all. they always have value.

"It's not because the technology could be misused that we should ban it and condemn it," said Jbady, ​​comparing it to how a knife could be used to "surreptitious" way. "That said, I really understand why people are worried about that, and I think the government should regulate it."

Amazon's facial recognition software, nicknamed Rekognition, has been the subject of repeated criticism from privacy advocates over the past year. While face recognition technology is commonly used for everyday tasks such as unlocking phones and tagging friends on social networks, advances in artificial intelligence and the proliferation of cameras are making it easier and more convenient observation and monitoring of what individuals do.

Last year, the ACLU revealed that Amazon was selling its facial recognition technology, Rekognition, to US law enforcement agencies, including the Orlando Police Department. An ACLU recognition test in July revealed that the system mistakenly confused 28 members of Congress with known criminals.

Concerns about the recognition were also expressed during public hearings before New York City Council on Amazon's unsuccessful proposal to build a new campus in the city, board members blaming several times to the company to have sold its gratitude to the US police.

Both Microsoft and Microsoft have publicly stated that they will not sell their facial recognition technology to law enforcement, but that they will seek new laws to guide their use.

"There are a lot of ways to go wrong with the investigation," said Jbady. "It's not because you could be wrong that you should use it.

Jbady said the company wanted to continue to support government agencies and that she intended to do so.

"All the government departments that will obey the law, we will serve," he said.