IBM to USA: Limit data on facial recognition systems

IBM has asked the US Department of Commerce to restrict exports of facial recognition systems, particularly to countries that could potentially use them for mass surveillance, racial profile or other human rights violations.

In a letter to the US Department of Commerce, IBM stressed the need for stricter export controls for facial recognition technologies that use what is referred to as "1-to-many" matching.

These suggested controls include the export control of both high-resolution cameras used for data collection and the software algorithms used to analyze and map this data to a database with images and restricting access to online image databases that can be used to train “1-to-many” facial recognition systems.

These systems differ from “1-to-1” face mapping systems which verify that a atom is what he says it is, "said IBM Vice President Christopher Padilla in a blog post.

"But in a '1-to-many' application, one system it can, for example, select a person from the crowd by matching it with an image in a database that contains many images. ”

"Face recognition systems do not work without this data. Controlling access to such data from online sources could be an effective way to curb some breaches of of human rights. Restricting access to educational data can be an effective way to limit it systemic "Face recognition capability for conducting mass surveillance and '1-to-many' matching," the company wrote.

IBM also recommended a multilateral agreement, such as the Wassenaar agreement, to increase global cooperation to limit the ability of "repressive regimes" to access these technologies.

We should also not forget that in June Big Blue decided to leave the face recognition business, fearing that its technology could be used to promote racial discrimination.

"IBM strongly opposes and will not allow the use of any technology, including face recognition technology offered by other vendors, for mass monitoring, racial profiles, violations of basic human rights and freedoms or for any purpose incompatible with values and our principles for transparency, ”said IBM CEO Arvind Krishna in a letter to Congress.

Also this year, the European Union debated the idea of ​​banning the use of face recognition technology in public places. The EU, according to Reuters, is considering banning face recognition in public places - parks, tourist spots and sports venues.