Facial recognition may help find Capitol rioters but it could harm many others, experts say By Johana Bhuiyan, Los Angeles Times
Published: February 8, 2021, 6:00am
Share: FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump, including Jacob Chansley, right with fur hat, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. A judge ordered corrections authorities to provide organic food to an Arizona man who is accused of participating in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Using Facial Recognition to Find Capitol Rioters Brings Risks
In the aftermath of a riot that included white supremacist factions attempting to overthrow the results of the presidential election, communities of color are warning about the potential danger of the software. by Johana Bhuiyan, Los Angeles Times / February 5, 2021 Police officers in riot gear stand guard while supporters of President Donald Trump protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS) TNS
(TNS) In the days following the Jan. 6 riot at the nation’s Capitol, there was a rush to identify those who had stormed the building’s hallowed halls.
Facial Recognition Can Find Rioters, but May Harm Others The AI-driven technology has been helping officials identify those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, but it also has been found to have racial biases. Officials must balance the potential benefits with the risks. Johana Bhuiyan, Los Angeles Times | February 5, 2021 | Analysis
(TNS) In the days following the Jan. 6 riot at the nation’s Capitol, there was a rush to identify those who had stormed the building’s hallowed halls.
Instagram accounts with names like Homegrown Terrorists popped up, claiming to use AI software and neural networks to trawl publicly available images to identify rioters. Researchers such as the cybersecurity expert John Scott-Railton said they deployed facial recognition software to detect trespassers, including a retired Air Force lieutenant alleged to have been spotted on the Senate floor during the riot. Clearview AI, a lead
In the days following the Jan. 6 riot at the nation’s Capitol, there was a rush to identify those who had stormed the building’s hallowed halls.
Instagram accounts with names like Homegrown Terrorists popped up, claiming to use AI software and neural networks to trawl publicly available images to identify rioters. Researchers such as the cybersecurity expert John Scott-Railton said they deployed facial recognition software to detect trespassers, including a retired Air Force lieutenant alleged to have been spotted on the Senate floor during the riot. Clearview AI, a leading facial recognition firm, said it saw a 26% jump in usage from law enforcement agencies on Jan. 7.