The Ethics of Facial Recognition Technology

Abstract

This is a comprehensive presentation of leading ethical issues in debates about facial recognition technology. After defining basic terms (facial detection, facial characterization, facial verification, and facial identification), the following issues are discussed: standards, measures, and disproportionately distributed harms; erosions of trust; ethical harms associated with perfect facial surveillance; alienation, dehumanization, and loss of control; and the slippery slope debate.

Keywords: facial recognition technology, privacy, civil liberties, ethics, slippery slope, trust, standards, disproportionate harms, alienation, loss of control