May 11, 2007
Is facial recognition the next weapon in the War on Terror?
The latest in video surveillance technology might become the newest tool in the fight against terror. Home Land Security leaders are delving into the idea of using video analytics designed for facial recognition to identify terrorists and marked criminals.
The government is investing in advanced research that puts this technology to the test. The facial-recognition system being explored converts video images into numerical sequences that can be measured up against a database containing millions of photos.
While some detractors claim that face-recognition cameras infringe on the privacy of the general public, government leaders are convinced that its benefits in providing enhanced safety far outweigh its negatives. Facial recognition has already been used in the past for collecting images of individuals in locations such as airports and other public transportation stations – images which can then be compared with terrorist databases. Notable instances where this technology was used include the 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa, and a surveillance test in Boston’s Logan International Airport.
While the overall effectiveness of facial recognition is still somewhat unclear, intelligent cameras have proven successful in specific situations such as identifying card counters and listed gamblers in casinos. This demonstrates that the technology does work, but the government realizes much more research must be done in order to meet the high demands of Homeland Security. The hope is that with these continued research efforts, facial-recognition technology will become more advanced and effective, and will soon work as an important ally in the war against terror.
Posted by Dan on May 11, 2007 7:07 PM | Comments (0)
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