Artificial Intelligence has resulted in real worry for 45% of tech execs who have resorted to binge drinking as a way of hiding from the inevitable changes in the workplace. Nonetheless, some sectors such as the security seems to make the most out of it as the new survey shows that Clearview AI runs close to 1 million facial recognition searches for the US police department.
ClearView AI is one of that companies hiding behind new technology to get free data from social media platforms. After scrapping 30 billion images from Facebook, the company now claims 100% accuracyin its AI facial recognition. Despite these claims, the company CEO, Hoan Ton-That would not take the bull by the horns and testify in court, “We don’t really want to be in court testifying about the accuracy of the algorithm because the investigators, they’re using other methods to also verify it.” He said.
This is not any good news as you probably know that Clearview AI has been on the spot for privacy breaches in Europe and Australia.
Mathew Guarigla expressed the invasive nature of this technological breakthrough:
“Whenever they (Police) have a photo of suspect, they will compare it to your face. It’s far too invasive.”
In as much as the police are yet to confirm the 1 million image searches, they acknowledged the use of Artificial intelligence in every type of crime.
AI and Mistaken Identity
Thousands if not hundreds of thousands are behind bars due to mistaken identity. You may not understand that until you or your relative is sentenced to 10 years in prison for crimes they never committed.
Andrew Conlyn narrowly escaped the long hands of the law in a case of homicide in which police accused him of driving a car that resulted in a fatal accident. In the narrative, Conlyn was having a good time in the passenger seat of his friend’s car when the accident occurred.
After the hungry mob lynched the driver for recklessness, Conlyn was pulled out of the passenger seat and had vehicular homicide charges pilled on him. Fortunately, when the lawyers invited ClearView AI to help identify the passer-by who pulled out Conlyn from the car, it was a matter of less than 5 seconds before the artificial intelligence identified Vince Ramirez as the passer-by. Following his testimony, Conlyn was acquitted of wrongdoing.
In as much as this is one sweet victory for justice due to the use of Artificial Intelligence, there are cases of mistaken identity without any official statistics.
How the Police Use AI Facial Recognition?
Police and law enforcement agencies around the world have been increasingly exploring the use of AI, specifically facial recognition technology, to assist in various aspects of their work. Here’s how police use AI in facial recognition:
Suspect Identification
Facial recognition technology can be used to match images of suspects against databases of known criminals or persons of interest. This helps law enforcement quickly identify potential suspects in criminal investigations.
Missing Persons
Police can use facial recognition to identify and locate missing persons by comparing images of individuals with those in databases of missing individuals.
Surveillance and Monitoring
Artificial intelligence powered facial recognition systems can be integrated into surveillance cameras to monitor public spaces for criminal activity or persons of interest. This could aid in real-time crime prevention and response.
Investigations and Security at Events
When a crime is captured on surveillance cameras, facial recognition can help track down suspects by analyzing footage and identifying individuals present at the scene. Additionally, the police often use facial recognition technology to enhance security at large events, such as sporting events, concerts, and public gatherings. This helps identify potential threats and prevent incidents.
Criminal Database Management
Law enforcement agencies maintain databases of criminals, suspects, and persons of interest. AI can help streamline the management of these databases by automating the process of comparing new images against the existing database.
Cross-Referencing with Social Media
Facial recognition can be used to cross-reference images from social media platforms with police databases. This can help identify individuals involved in criminal activities and track their movements.
Cold Cases and Forensics
Facial recognition can be used to analyze older photographs and video footage to potentially identify previously unknown suspects or persons of interest in cold cases.
Biometric Authentication
Some police departments use facial recognition as a biometric authentication method for accessing secure areas, databases, or equipment.
In sum…
It’s important to note that the use of facial recognition technology by police has sparked debates and concerns over privacy, accuracy, and potential misuse. Critics argue that these systems can be prone to biases, particularly against certain racial or ethnic groups, and that they could infringe upon civil liberties. As a result, there have been calls for regulation and ethical guidelines governing the use of Artificial Intelligence in law enforcement.
Laws and regulations regarding the use of facial recognition technology vary by jurisdiction. Some places have implemented restrictions or bans on its use in certain contexts, while others have embraced it as a tool for public safety.
