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  4. Facial Recognition: Helpful or Harmful?
 

Facial Recognition: Helpful or Harmful?

Keywords: Facial recognition, biometric markers, identity verification, security applications, law enforcement, border control, mobile phone unlocking, airport security, privacy concerns, identity fraud, misidentification, surveillance, data security, automated systems, access control, operational efficiency, public surveillance, false positives.

Introduction

Your face is unique to you. Just like your fingerprints, that are also uniquely yours, an image of your face can be used to identify you. Facial recognition is automating this so that a feed from a camera can be used to identify you by comparing your biometric markers to a database.  For example, you may be using your face to unlock your mobile phone. Increasingly, facial recognition is also being used for border control. You may have used this at an airport during your last overseas trip. This technology is a crucial tool in identity verification and also has many security applications, such as the use by law enforcement to track criminals or persons of interest. This article provides an overview of this technology, considering the benefits, but also flagging some areas of concern. 

How does facial recognition work?

There are 3 steps to facial recognition:

  1. Face Detection: An individuals face needs to be detected.
  2. Face Analysis: A facial recognition system can then begin to analyse an individual’s face, examining facial features such as the distance between eyes, nose and lips. This converts the images to data.  The collected data is then converted to a mathematical formula, representing an individual’s unique faceprint.
  3. Finding a Match: This unique faceprint is then ran through a database to help locate the person and verify their identity.

Advantages of using facial recognition

As mentioned above, the advantages lay in this tool as useful way to identity and track missing people or criminals.

Facial recognition software has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing security and operational efficiency and is most effective in areas such as airports. Its application in this context spans multiple functions. As such, this aids in law enforcement agencies and security personnel to identify individuals on watchlists, or those with fraudulent documentation, ensuring a safer environment for all travellers. The system is built to rapidly cross-check faces against databases, providing real-time alerts for potential threats, enhancing overall security posture.

Facial recognition may expedite passenger identification procedures, consequently strengthening security. Airports can drastically lower wait times and improve the traveller experience by incorporating such technology into check-ins, boarding, and customs processes. This would effectively reduce time consuming procedures such as conventional credentials, like boarding tickets or passports. Travellers may also utilise biometric checks to confirm their identities. 

This reduces the likelihood of identity fraud and human errors, speeding up passenger flow. 

In Singapore, Changi Airport's acquisition of facial recognition for passport-less clearance, exemplifies how biometrics can revolutionise access control. This sets a benchmark for global airports, seeking to augment both security and efficiency. In Singapore, the technology utilises facial and iris biometrics to identify residents entering and leaving the airport, expelling the requirement to scan passports. 

Disadvantages of using facial recognition

While the advantages of facial recognition remain effective and innovative, this technology also comes with its own drawbacks. This is significant when it comes to compromising potential legal infractions and personal rights to identity and remains as a major area.   Facial recognition also raises ethical concerns regarding the degree to which people have control over their personal information as it frequently gathers stores and analyses biometric data without the expressed consent of users. The sense of freedom in public locations may be weakened by this practice and may create a sense of ongoing surveillance. 

Recently, it was revealed that Bunnings had breached privacy laws by using facial recognition technology on customers in its stores. The technology was implemented to identify and prevent criminal activity within the premises. However, under Australian law, biometric data is classified as highly sensitive information, subject to strict legal protections. 

Although Bunnings claimed that any data acquired was unmatched to an individual’s face and subsequently deleted within 4.17 milliseconds, this practice was still found to be a violation of Australian law. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to privacy regulations when utilising advanced technologies, particularly those involving sensitive personal information. It draws attention to the possible contentions which arise and poses questions on the right to individual privacy.  

Another significant downside to the use of facial recognition software is the potential for misidentification, particularly in criminal cases. This issue arises from the limitations and inaccuracies of the technology, which can lead to devastating consequences for wronged individuals. A notable example involves a man who was wrongfully identified and arrested for allegedly stealing five watches. The misidentification was based solely on facial recognition software, highlighting its fallibility. 

This was not an isolated incident; similar errors have occurred on at least two other occasions. These cases underscore the risk of being heavily reliant on facial recognition when making critical decisions, such as criminal investigations.  

When the software produces false positives, this costs individuals their innocence and may be faced with unfair criminal charges or subject to legal proceedings. This heightens at the public forefront, and draws unwarranted scrutiny, highly damaging to their integrity and reputation, causing a significant amount of emotional, psychological and financial harm.    

Effects on Security

Facial recognition systems can enhance surveillance capabilities by helping detect potential threats. It can also be used for access control purposes, ensuring only authorised individuals enter facilities. It also reduces the risk of identity theft, as keypad access can be replaced with this in such buildings.  In the long term, security costs can also be reduced, as facial recognition minimises the need for human security due to application of automated systems. However, the concerns on its disadvantages remain. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, facial recognition technology is a powerful tool with the potential to enhance security, streamline operations, and improve efficiency in various sectors. This has already taken effect in airports and retail environments. Its ability to identify individuals rapidly and accurately have made it an asset for law enforcement, access control, and passenger authentication.

However, the deployment of facial recognition is not without challenges. The technology raises serious concerns regarding privacy, data security, and its ethical use. These issues emphasise the need for strict regulations, transparent policies, and robust safeguards to ensure the ethical and lawful use of facial recognition. 

While the advantages of facial recognition are undoubtedly helpful, , its implementation must be managed with caution.  It is pertinent to balance the benefits, and keep in mind the protection of individual rights. By addressing these challenges and fostering public trust, facial recognition can continue to evolve as a valuable tool for upholding safety and efficiency in a responsible and equitable manner. 

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