Establishing Guidelines to Regulate the Use of Facial Identification Technology in a Morally Acceptable Manner
In April 2025, New South Wales, Australia, launched a new digital ID program that utilizes facial recognition technology integrated into the Service NSW app to verify identity. This allows residents to access government services and confirm professional qualifications without disclosing sensitive personal information like their full name or address. The program is marketed as a quicker and safer way for elderly and disabled residents to access services, although critics warn it may promote constant surveillance.
The facial recognition technology, already a part of daily life for many through smartphones and social media, raises questions about privacy, consent, and the perpetuation of human bias. The topic of Facial and Biometric Recognition is covered in detail in our company's In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, providing a framework for students to explore the impacts of facial recognition technology on their interactions with the world.
The software does not see a face as a human would but identifies patterns, mapping approximately 80 key points of a person's face to create a faceprint. This faceprint is then compared against a database of stored images to assess if the geometry aligns with an image on file and returns a match. Modern facial recognition systems are powered by machine learning, learning through studying examples and comparing data points from millions of images.
However, the lack of consent when using real people's photos for training has raised ethical concerns. Companies have faced criticism for using images from platforms like Facebook and Instagram without obtaining informed permission. One company, Clearview AI, trained its system using billions of images scraped from the internet but has faced backlash for its questionable methods. Police have used Clearview in investigations, sometimes without informing public officials, raising concerns about civic oversight.
Legislation is being debated to regulate the use of facial recognition technology. In 2019, bipartisan legislation aimed to require federal agencies to obtain a warrant before using facial recognition for surveillance, but the bill never made it out of committee. As of early 2025, 15 states have policies governing the use of facial recognition by police, with some requiring a warrant before searches or focusing on procedural transparency.
Critical thinking questions to consider include the ethics of using people's faces to train technology without their knowledge or consent, the ethical differences between verifying identity and identifying unknown individuals, and the potential risks to free expression and political participation if facial recognition is used broadly in public spaces.
Facial recognition technology is not limited to policing or surveillance. It can locate vulnerable individuals, such as missing children, and aid in reunification efforts during emergencies. However, a simple mismatch can lead to wrongful accusations or arrests based on faulty data. IBM canceled its facial recognition programs in 2018 due to concerns over racial profiling and violations of basic human rights.
The widespread use of facial recognition technology has raised questions about control, transparency, and the practical value of participating in digital systems that individuals did not choose. Our company's In Context: Opposing Viewpoints helps students examine these questions, further supported by our entire database collection. To learn more about how our company can encourage deeper thinking and lively discussions in the classroom, contact your local sales representative for further information or to request a free trial.
- The new digital ID program in New South Wales, Australia, leverages facial recognition technology, integrated into the Service NSW app, to ensure privacy by verifying identity without disclosing sensitive data.
- Modern facial recognition systems, including the one implemented in the digital ID program, are powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, learning from examples and comparisons of data points from millions of images.
- However, the lack of consent when using real people's photographs for training these systems has raised ethical concerns, with critics questioning the use of images from platforms like Facebook and Instagram without informed permission.
- In response, legislation is being debated to regulate the use of facial recognition technology, focusing on issues like the need for warrants for surveillance and ensuring procedural transparency.
- The widespread use of facial recognition technology in various aspects of life, including education and self-development, policy and legislation, politics, general news, and learning, brings up questions about ethics, control, transparency, and the practical implications of participating in such digital systems.
