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Utopia Talk / Politics / EU drops face recognition ban
Paramount
Member
Thu Jan 30 11:58:57
EU drops idea of facial recognition ban in public areas

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has scrapped the possibility of a ban on facial recognition technology in public spaces, according to the latest proposals seen by Reuters.

An earlier draft by the European Commission had broached the idea of a moratorium of up to five years to give the bloc time to work out how to prevent abuses.

Facial recognition artificial intelligence has sparked a global debate about the pros and cons of a technology widely used by law enforcement agencies but abused by authoritarian regimes for mass and discriminatory surveillance. Critics say the technology can infringe people’s fundamental rights and breach data privacy rules.

The revised proposal, part of a package of measures to address the challenges of AI, could still be tweaked as the commission is currently seeking feedback before it presents its plan on Feb. 19.

The proposed AI rules would cover so-called high risk sectors such as healthcare and transport.

The U.S. government earlier this month unveiled its own AI regulatory guidelines aimed at limiting authorities’ overreach and urged Europe to avoid aggressive approaches.

Microsoft President Brad Smith has said that a facial recognition AI ban is akin to using a cleaver instead of a scalpel to solve potential problems while Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has voiced support.

http://www...blic-areas-paper-idUSKBN1ZS37Q

The question is why is the US so keen on that Europe don’t ban facial recognition in public areas?
Rugian
Member
Thu Jan 30 12:09:47
The real question is why is the EU attempting to deal with this issue at all? Surely the individual member states of the EU, being sovereign independent nations, have the ability to make their own determination on this issue, no?

Stuff like this makes it clear why parliamentarians in EU member states are so in board with granting the EU more and more powers every year. It must be ridiculously easy to be a legislator when 90% of the lawmaking pertaining to your country has been outsourced to a bunch of mandarins in Brussels.
jergul
large member
Thu Jan 30 12:37:06
Ruggy
I agree. Facial recognition clearly sorts under State rights!
Rugian
Member
Thu Jan 30 12:44:21
Jergul,

I agree. And what do you know, it IS a state & local issue here.

-----

Cambridge becomes the largest Massachusetts city to ban facial recognition

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com Staff January 14, 2020

The tech hub of Cambridge has become the fourth community in Massachusetts — and the largest East Coast city — to ban the use of facial surveillance.

In a 9-0 vote Monday night, the Cambridge City Council unanimously approved the measure, prohibiting any city departments from intentionally accessing or using face recognition technology — as well as any information obtained from such technology.

The move — which follows similar bans approved this past year in Somerville, Brookline, and Northampton — amends a 2018 ordinance that previously allowed Cambridge officials to use biometric or facial recognition technology with the City Council’s approval. San Francisco became the first major American city to pass a face recognition technology ban last May.

http://www...4/cambridge-facial-recognition
Paramount
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:05:11
America shouldn’t have such a aggressive approach to facial recognition.
Rugian
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:07:15
Paramount,

I'm not sure why you're so offended by tech companies prodding you to keep their tech legal.

They're lobbyists. Ignore them if you want, but it's a part of the game.
Paramount
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:13:49
” Surely the individual member states of the EU, being sovereign independent nations, have the ability to make their own determination on this issue, no?”

If the EU won’t ban it, I sadly doubt that Sweden will.
Rugian
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:40:39
"Sweden will permit police departments to use facial recognition technology to help identify criminal suspects but will limit how long they can keep the data."

http://new...nition-tech-approved-in-sweden

Boom. Sorry Paramount, but the state is going to know every time you go for a Doritos run soon.
Paramount
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:48:11
I think it is time to move Norway.
Paramount
Member
Thu Jan 30 14:48:30
* to Norway
jergul
large member
Thu Jan 30 15:11:57
See Ruggy?

The State decides. What the EU is doing is not prescriptive.
Rugian
Member
Thu Jan 30 15:14:05
Jergul,

The entire point of this thread is that the EU was considering becoming the final say, you absolute muppet.
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