A recent study by Harvard and MIT researchers reveals that China leads the world in exporting face recognition technology, accounting for 201 deals. The US is second with 128 deals. The study argues that these exports could lead to greater government surveillance and potential human rights violations. The researchers focused on face recognition in smart city technology, where it is often used to enhance video surveillance.
There is growing concern in the US about China’s dominance in the artificial intelligence market, including face recognition. In recent years, the US has imposed restrictions on the use of Huawei’s 5G technology and placed sanctions on Chinese face recognition providers. There is growing interest in limiting the export of Chinese face recognition technology, and potentially, imposing sanctions on countries that import it.
However, the fact that the US is also a significant exporter of face recognition technology risks undermining its stance as a promoter of freedom and democracy. There is a rising use of face recognition by US police departments, but there are no national standards restricting or limiting its use. Some US companies, such as Clearview AI, are exporting face recognition tools that can connect a person’s surveillance camera image to their online identities, which raises privacy concerns.
The best way for the US to counter China’s success in exporting face recognition may be to regulate its use at home and to offer alternatives to Chinese technology abroad. However, the prospects of the US Congress agreeing on meaningful limits to the technology look slim. China’s dominance in the face recognition market is partly due to its close ties to government entities that provide large amounts of data and funding for the technology’s development.
The global face recognition market is dominated by China, with the US in second place. The report highlights the need for regulation and limitations on the use of this technology to protect citizens’ human rights and privacy.
