Advertisement

Updated April 17th, 2019 at 19:27 IST

Microsoft rejected facial recognition sales over human rights concerns: Brad Smith

Microsoft rejected California law enforcement agency request to install facial recognition technology in their officers’ cars and body cameras, said Brad Smith

Reported by: Tech Desk
| Image:self
Advertisement

California law enforcement agency recently requested Microsoft to install facial recognition technology in their officers’ cars and body cameras. Microsoft rejected their request over human rights concerns, Microsoft president Brad Smith said.

According to Microsoft, it would lead to discrimination against innocent women and minorities being unfairly held for questioning. Microsoft also said that artificial intelligence (AI) has been trained predominantly with white male pictures.

Many cases and incidents have been reported in the past where AI failed to identify women and minoities. In fact, many studies and research projects in the past have pointed out bias in artificial intelligence (AI).

“Anytime they pulled anyone over, they wanted to run a face scan. We said this technology is not your answer,” Smith Said while speaking at a Stanford University conference on ‘human-centered artificial intelligence.’

Smith said Microsoft had also rejected the deal to install facial recognition on cameras covering the capital city of an unnamed country that the nonprofit Freedom House had deemed not free. Smith said it would have affected the freedom of assembly there.

READ | Microsoft announces disk-free Xbox One S All-Digital console, shipping starts from May 7 

However, Microsoft agreed to provide facial recognition technology to a prison in the U.S. after concluded that the environment would be limited and safety would be improved.

Smith reiterated the company’s commitment to human rights, which according to Smith is increasingly critical as technological innovations empower government institutions to conduct blanket surveillance, use autonomous weapons and take other steps leading to irreversible damage.

In December, Microsoft said it would be open about deficiencies pertaining to its facial recognition. The company also asked customers to be honest about how they intended to use it while stopping short of ruling out sales to police.

Smith called for greater administration of facial recognition and other uses of AI. Smith warned that without regulations, companies gathering the most data might win the race to develop the best AI in a “race to the bottom.”

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet was also present at the event. Bachelet urged tech companies to refrain from building new tools without weighing their impact.

 “Please embody the human rights approach when you are developing technology,” said Bachelet.

Advertisement

Published April 17th, 2019 at 19:27 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

INDI Seals Seat-sharing Deal in Bihar, RJD to Contest on 26 Seats, Cong 9
5 minutes ago
Bengaluru Man Tragically Dies After Friend Pumps Hot Air Into His Rectum For Fun
8 minutes ago
Sunita Kejriwal urged people to send ‘messages of support’ to Delhi CM
10 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
11 minutes ago
Kamlesh Awasthi
12 minutes ago
Adani Green Adopts Robotics for Solar Module Maintenance
24 minutes ago
Electric Vehicle
27 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
27 minutes ago
A poster of Crew
32 minutes ago
"We never celebrated Holi after the incident (the murder), I felt that today is Holi for us,” Alka Rai, wife of formerBJP MLA Krishnanand Rai said.
35 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo