Security News > 2020 > March > Covid-19 Spurs Facial Recognition Tracking, Privacy Fears
In the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, facial recognition technology is being adopted globally as a way to track the virus' spread. But privacy experts worry that, in the rush to implement COVID-19 tracking capabilities, important and deep rooted issues around data collection and storage, user consent, and surveillance will be brushed under the rug.
"While facial recognition technology provides a fast and zero-contact method for identifying individuals, the technology is not without risks. Primarily, individuals scanned by facial recognition services need to be aware of how their data is being used."
Others are pitching their own variations of this application: According to a OneZero report, German-based Dermalog is marketing its facial recognition tech that determines temperature as a safety feature; while Chinese company Telpo has created temperature sensor-equipped facial recognition terminals.
Facial recognition is not a perfect science, we have seen public dissatisfaction with the way in which some governments have used facial recognition resulting in its withdrawal from use.
"Great care must be taken by any organization that adopts facial recognition at this time, and should disclose their data collecting practices. It is easy to imagine hackers going after a database of facial recognition data to exploit, thereby giving criminals yet another weapon to use."