FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

Why in the news?

NITI Aayog released ‘White Paper: Responsible AI for All (RAI) on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT)’

About Facial Recognition Technology (FRT)

• It is an Artificial intelligence (AI) system which allows identification or verification of a person based on certain images or video data using complex algorithms.
• FRT can be used for two purposes:
  • 1: 1 verification of identity: Facial map is obtained for the purpose of matching it against the person’s photograph on a database. E.g. 1.1 is used to unlock phones.
  • 1: n identification of identity: Verification against the entire database to identify the person in the photograph or video. E.g. 1: n is used for mass monitoring and surveillance.

Applications and use-cases of FRT

• Security related Uses

• Law and order enforcement:

• • • • Identification of Persons of Interest, including suspected criminals.
      • Identification of Missing Persons. 
      • Monitoring and surveillance. E.g., China’s Skynet Project.
      • Immigration and border management.
    • Crowd Control: Cameras used in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Law for maintenance of large crowds during Kumbh Mela, 2021.

• Non-Security related Uses

• • Verification and authentication of individual identity for access to products, services, and public benefits using biometrics. E.g., Using an Aadhar Card for Authentication based on Facial Recognition.
  • Ease of access to services: E.g., contactless onboarding at airports through Digi Yatra.
  • Ease in usability such as unique IDs in educational institutions, etc. E.g., Central Board for Secondary Education’s ‘Face Matching Technology Educational’ for authentication to access academic documents.

Risks associated with FRT systems?

• Inaccuracies: FRT systems may lead to misidentification due to inaccuracies resulting from-

1. 1. 1. Automation bias and underrepresentation in databases
      2. Lack of accountability
      3. Technical factors
      4. Glitches or perturbations
      5. Lack of training of human operators

• Concerns regarding Accountability, legal liability and grievance redressal

• Rights-based issues: Supreme Court in Justice K Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) has recognised the right to informational autonomy as a facet of the right to privacy within Article 21 of the Constitution. FRT systems may violate these rights due to-

1. 1. Purpose creep: Against the concept of informational autonomy.
   2. Data leaks
   3. Lack of Meaningful Consent
   4. Private Security Use