The Ethics of Emotion Recognition Technology: Implications for Privacy and Consent

Abstract

This article examines the ethical implications of emotion recognition technology (ERT), an emerging artificial intelligence application that detects and analyzes human emotions through facial expressions, voice patterns, and physiological data. While ERT offers significant potential benefits across multiple domains—including healthcare, education, marketing, and workplace management—its deployment raises profound ethical concerns. The research explores four critical ethical dimensions: privacy vulnerabilities associated with the collection and storage of intimate emotional data; challenges in obtaining meaningful informed consent; risks of algorithmic bias and discrimination; and psychological impacts including emotional self-regulation, authenticity in interpersonal relationships, and potential consequences for mental health. Through interdisciplinary analysis, the article proposes a framework for responsible ERT development that balances innovation with ethical imperatives. Key recommendations include implementing privacy-by-design principles, establishing transparent data practices, developing comprehensive regulatory frameworks, conducting longitudinal psychological impact studies, promoting public engagement in governance, and integrating ethical training into technology education. The findings emphasize that realizing ERT's potential for enhancing human well-being requires ongoing collaboration among ethicists, psychologists, policymakers, and technologists to ensure this powerful technology respects individual autonomy, protects psychological integrity, and aligns with societal values.

Keywords: emotion recognition technology, affective computing, AI ethics, privacy, informed consent, algorithmic bias, psychological impact, emotional autonomy, data protection, humancomputer interaction, digital well-being, responsible innovation, emotion monitoring, facial expression analysis, ethical guidelines