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Amid growing call for regulation to limit the use of facial recognition technology, Microsoft on Friday became the first technology giant to join the choir.
In a long article on the potential and risks of facial recognition, Bradford L. Smith, the company's president, compared technology to products such as drugs and highly regulated cars, and he urged Congress to study and monitor its use.
"We live in a nation of laws playing an important role in the regulation of facial recognition technology," Smith wrote, adding: "A world with vigorous regulation of products that are useful but potentially troubling is better than a world devoid of legal standards. "
The tech giants rarely advocate additional regulation of their products.But in recent months, some have been severely criticized for their role in the efforts of the Russia to undermine the 2016 elections, and for the way in which they manage users' personal data Some companies, like Facebook, express more openness to laws on online advertising disclosures.
Recognition Facial has become a new target for critics.The powerful technology can be used to identify people in photos or es video streams without their knowledge or permission. Supporters see it as a potentially important tool for identifying criminals, but civil liberties experts have warned that the technology could allow mass surveillance, preventing people from freely participating in political protests or leading their daily lives in the future. Anonymity
. In April, privacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission claiming that Facebook had activated new face reconciliation services without users' permission. Facebook has denied the accusations of the groups.
In May, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups asked Amazon to stop selling its facial recognition service, Rekognition, to law enforcement agencies. the law. (The New York Times recently used Amazon's services to help identify participants in the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.)
Now, Microsoft is positioning itself as a leader in the industry. calling for government regulation of facial recognition. for "developing standards around acceptable uses" of technology. The company could also try to anticipate a nascent movement in states like California to tightly regulate technology.
Smith, the president of the company, suggested that governments around the world examine law enforcement and the commercial uses of technology.
"Should the use of facial recognition by law enforcement agencies be subject to human controls? "Does the law require companies to obtain prior consent before collecting images of individuals for facial recognition?"
In the European Union, many of these issues are already settled.
to collect the biometric data necessary for facial recognition without first obtaining the specific consent of the users. Illinois has similar restrictions.
In his blog, Mr. Smith said that Congress should appoint a commission to study the issue and make recommendations on potential settlements. The Federal Trade Commission has already examined facial recognition, recommending in a report that some companies "offer consumers an easy-to-use choice for not having their biometric data collected and used for facial recognition."
Microsoft markets facial recognition software that can detect faces in photos, as well as facial features like hair color and emotions like anger or disgust, according to the company's website.
and match the faces of your private repository up to a million people, "the site said. Uber has used this technology to verify the identity of drivers, according to Microsoft marketing documents.
Smith wrote in the blog that Microsoft was reviewing its own development and commercialization of technology.
He also said that Microsoft had rejected the facial recognition applications of some customers "where we concluded that there is"
Microsoft employees recently protested against the contract of the company. company with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that was involved in the separation of migrant children from their families at the border.In his blog, Mr. Smith wrote that the contract of the company with this agency "is not used for facial recognition" or to separate families.
April Isenhower, spokesperson for Microsoft, refused to answer questions facial recognition services to others It also refused to discuss the company's position on consumer consent for facial recognition.
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