US-based technology giant Microsoft has made a striking decision preventing the use of artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition systems by the police. These technologies offered on the company’s cloud computing platform Azure will no longer be used by the US police. Microsoft’s move also includes image analysis models developed by OpenAI and integrated with Azure. With this decision, an important resource that allows the police to make real-time identification has been blocked.
Reasons and Global Implications of Microsoft’s Decision
The exact reason for Microsoft’s decision was not disclosed. However, there are concerns that facial recognition technology could put personal privacy at risk and that it does not yet work flawlessly. It is known that this technology has been at the center of various debates in the past. On the other hand, it is observed that some countries around the world are moving towards the use of artificial intelligence-supported police equipment. For example, French police have started testing AI-powered surveillance equipment for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The effectiveness and ethical dimensions of such technologies will become clearer in the coming periods.