JALSA in The New York Times on Facial Recognition Technology

Full letter to the editor of The New York Times at this link.

Facial Recognition Flaws

To the Editor:

Re “On Airports’ Horizon: Facial Recognition” (Travel, Feb. 19):

Imagine if someone (or something) insisted you were someone you’re not. How would you go about proving you’re you? Sound like the start of a dystopian novel? Well, that’s exactly the situation that people will be in if we let facial surveillance get too far out of control.

This kind of technology has its temptations, but remember — it could be you or your kids who get misidentified at an airport halfway around the world, and what happens then?

Let’s think twice before we put too much faith in this equipment, and make sure there are safeguards for how it can be used. Studies have shown that false positive IDs are highest among people of color and women, revealing that the technology operates with the prejudices of the people who created it.

Nobody is immune from being misidentified and having their lives ruined by a mistake brought about by a machine programmed with imperfect software designed by human beings, with all our flaws and biases.

Larry Bailis
Cindy Rowe
Boston
Mr. Bailis is chair of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. Ms. Rowe is its president and C.E.O.