By Umberto Bacchi, Thomson Reuters Foundation
6 Min Read Rights activists warn a lack of clear rules allows for abuse Authorities say cameras identify people who have committed crimes
TBILISI, Feb 4 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Russian authorities are deploying facial recognition cameras to identify protesters during rallies in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in Moscow, human rights groups said, warning that the technology is being used to stifle peaceful dissent.
With more than 105,000 cameras, Moscow boasts one of the world’s most comprehensive surveillance systems - which authorities say has helped cut crime and enforce coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Yet, since the system became fully operational last year, rights activists have noted that cameras have been used to monitor political demonstrations, with a lack of clear rules allowing for abuse of the system.