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China Approves Facial Recognition for Surveillance

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the try-to-get-my-good-side dept.

user24 writes "Several sources are reporting that China has approved a facial recognition system to be used for ID purposes in surveillance and security. From the article: 'The system, approved by the Ministry of Public Security, is expected to be used at airports, customs entrances, banks, post offices, residential areas and other public places in the near future [...] 'It has a superior advantage compared with fingerprint identification because the country doesn't have a fingerprint database for the general public,' [...] However, the country's ID cards do feature the person's photograph, which could facilitate the creation of a facial database, said Su Guangda.'"

4 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Double standard idealism by merc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When China does it... it's communism.

    When a western country does it, it's for homeland security.

    --
    It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.
    1. Re:Double standard idealism by meringuoid · · Score: 3, Insightful
      When China does it... it's communism. When a western country does it, it's for homeland security.

      Cf. the differences between

      terrorist and freedom fighter
      heretic and prophet
      gangster and king
      treasonous rebel and founding father

      "When I say a word, it means what I want it to mean." -- Humpty Dumpty

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  2. Amazing Technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's really impressive! I mean, to me, they all look alike...ow, hey! Stop throwing things! Not in the face! Not in the face!

  3. Hmm - question, poser, query... by GuyverDH · · Score: 3, Funny

    What happens when the machine thinks we all look alike?

    --
    Who is general failure, and why is he reading my hard drive?