Security News > 2020 > January > Google CEO Backs EU's Proposed Facial Recognition Ban

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai this week threw his support behind a European Union proposal for a temporary ban on the use of facial recognition technology in public areas while regulators assess the risks associated with the technology.

On Friday, Reuters reported that the European Union is considering a five-year ban on the use of facial recognition technology in public areas in order to work out ways to prevent abuses and protect user privacy for citizens who have not given consent.

"Building on these existing provisions, the future regulatory framework could go further and include a time-limited ban on the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces," according to the EU document seen by Reuters.

In the last year, the use of facial recognition technology in public areas has raised concerns in the EU. In France for example, the government has tried to use the technology to connect citizens with public services, with officials attempting to balance privacy concerns.

Google has held off on offering its own facial recognition technology as a general purpose API because of the risks of abuse, he said.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/google-ceo-backs-eus-proposed-facial-recognition-ban-a-13631