The ever-growing surveillance network combined with facial recognition technologies are raising some incredibly troubling issues that far too few people are talking about. Aside from the total destruction of privacy and far-reaching (horrible beyond imagination) implications blanket surveillance entails even if this technology is "fail-safe", it is even worse in our world of imperfect, inept and corrupt government.
This was demonstrated most clearly and recently in the UK, at the Notting Hill Carnival.
The controversial trial of facial recognition equipment at Notting Hill Carnival resulted in roughly 35 false matches and an erroneous arrest, highlighting questions about police use of the technology.
The system only produced a single accurate match during the course of Carnival, but the individual had already been processed by the justice system and was erroneously included on the suspect database.
The implications of widespread implementation of this technology are truly frightening.