Face For Sale: Leaks and Lawsuits Blight Russia Facial Recognition

The rise of cloud computing and AI have popularised face recognition technology globally, but at what cost? From a report: When Anna Kuznetsova saw an ad offering access to Moscow's face recognition cameras, all she had to do was pay 16,000 roubles ($200) and send a photo of the person she wanted spying on. The 20-year-old -- who was acting as a volunteer for a digital rights group investigating leaks in Moscow's pervasive surveillance system -- sent over a picture of herself and waited. Two days later and her phone buzzed. The seller had forwarded the paralegal a detailed list of all the addresses in the Russian capital where she had been spotted by cameras over the previous month, her lawyers said. "It was really incredible," said Sarkis Darbinyan, a lawyer for Roskomsvoboda, the group behind the investigation. "We got a report of all her movements in Moscow." The incident is now under police investigation. Far from an aberration, the incident is at the centre of one of several lawsuits brought in recent months by rights activists against the Russian authorities over their use of face recognition. The rise of cloud computing and AI technologies have popularised the technology globally, with supporters saying it promises greater security and efficiency. But the backlash is growing, too, as critics say benefits come at the cost of lost privacy and increased surveillance.

U.S. Lagging. Again.

[SlashbotAgent]

Once again, the U.S. is lagging in this space.

We need efficient and low cost market access to this facial recognition data, like the Russian citizenry has.

Defund surveillance-state firewalls!

Re:U.S. Lagging. Again.

[uncqual]

You might want to check with the Uyghurs to get their opinion.

You might also want to check with residents of Hong Kong to get their opinion.

If one doesn't value personal freedom, China may be attractive. However if one values personal freedom it is one of the last places on Earth one would want to live.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Interview question: If the USA is so awful, why do people keep emigrating to it?

Re:

[deodiaus2]

Well, probably because Sweden, Norway and most of Western Europe doesn't want them, unless they are well skilled. They are not wanted in the US anyway, but being a land of immigrants, it is easier to blend in than say France. For any society to graduate college major in fields are deemed essential, it takes a lot of money. The US wants those who have those skills, as often, they bring in 5X their salaries in returns to the companies that employ them. One the lower end of the economic rung, there is fierce

Re: U.S. Lagging. Again.

[NWicketts]

Lol someone doesn't know how their treated in China!

Re:

[rtb61]

Not as much as you think. The Russian government and the government of China have both been able to really crack down on corruption. The US just more in the background, keeping stuff in the down low for a deep state grab for power, combined with the Epstein files (more that just dirty videos), they will control many of the most corrupt, those who refuse to bend the knee, getting prosecuted instead.

Both Russia and China now see corruption as a national security risk and are using modern technology, data min

Shocking.

[Gravis Zero]

I'm shocked, shocked, I say, that exact scenario that experts warned may happen has happened. Nobody could have foreseen this. -_-

Well, it *is* state terrorism.

[BAReFO0t]

So would you stop acting like it's "controversial" or anything. It is completely clear-cut among every single person with a clue. It is just that some of them are also horrible psychopaths that use such a system (for that exact reason) and want to manipulate you into believing it isn't.

Minority Report

[Tulsa_Time]

It wasn't a movie, it was a live stream from the future.

My opinion

[BillShiphr]

Oh, my God! What about human rights? Does our government also spy on us? If you get in some situation whom do you need to call? I mean, what kind of a lawyer? The only attorney I have ever worked with is Vladimir from https://spetslaw.com/ [spetslaw.com] . He is a great personal injury attorney. Once I got into an accident and he could solve the complicated situation in my position. By the way, I think he is also Russian. It seems like they know everything about how to protect themselves from such crazy government behavio