An Overview of Facial Recognition Technology
What was once seen as science fiction is now a common technology in the United States. This improved biometric technology is making it easier to use smartphones and go through airport security. Facial recognition technology mainly uses computer vision and AI to either identify or verify a person by their facial characteristics.
The facial recognition sector has grown rapidly in recent times. Grand View Research states that the global market for facial recognition reached $5.01 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow by 15.4% every year from 2022 through 2030. Expansion is taking place mostly in the U.S., thanks to efforts from the government, stores and fintech companies.
What Are the Steps in Facial Recognition?
The Science in the Technology
Deep learning is used in facial recognition to study the distance between someone’s eyes, the width of their nose and the outline of their cheekbones. They take a photo of a person’s face and produce a faceprint that consists of numbers.
The Important Phases in the Process
Identifying and single out the face in an image or video frame is known as face detection.
Face Analysis: Tracing key points on the face and turning them into information.
Checking the faceprint in a list of faces.
Determining who the person is.
Thanks to improved processing speed and more extensive training, currently, facial recognition is both faster and more accurate.
Facial Recognition in Use in the USA
Police and Law Enforcement
Many agencies in the United States rely on facial recognition to help with investigations. According to reports, the FBI’s system uses a database that contains over 640 million photographs from driver’s licenses and passports. It is useful for matching faces in recordings or photos with those in crime records.
However, some are criticizing this deepfake detection technology because of privacy concerns and the risk of racial bias. Actually, cities such as San Francisco and Boston have decided not to allow their governments to use facial recognition due to concerns about civil rights.
How Consumer Devices Are Used Everyday
Smartphones and smart devices at home have made facial recognition a popular tool. Now, millions of Americans are able to unlock their phones and confirm payments with Apple’s Face ID.
Over 80% of smartphone users in the U.S. currently have facial recognition on their phones. As a result, more people are using it in their everyday activities.
Innovations and New Trends
AI progress and Edge Computing
With new advancements, facial recognition is faster and more accurate. Edge computing makes it possible for facial analysis to happen instantly on a smartphone, rather than sending data to the cloud. Therefore, phone or smart camera recognition can be done locally, without always using the cloud.
AI is now able to detect faces in situations where there is poor lighting or some part of the face is hidden such as a mask. With everyone using masks due to the pandemic, people are finding it more difficult to recognize others.
Modern Integration at Retail and Airports
Many retailers are using facial recognition for better security and to assist customers. Both Walmart and Walgreens have apparently tried out technology to identify people who shoplift or who return regularly. At some airports such as LAX and DFW, the TSA is using facial recognition to make checking in quicker and more contactless.
In 2023, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said that its program for facial biometric exit checked over 200 million travelers with a matching rate of 98%.
Considering Ethics and Meeting Standards
Privacy and Rights
Even though it has many uses, facial recognition leads to privacy concerns. People are mainly concerned about how facial data is collected and what happens to it after collection. They believe mass surveillance could threaten the rights guaranteed by the constitution.
Processes for Regulation
As a result, various states have introduced or passed laws that oversee the use of facial recognition. Illinois’ BIPA is the main law that requires facial data collection to be done with the person’s consent. Washington and California have each set up similar plans.
Currently, federal rules on biometrics are still scattered, but support for overall biometric privacy laws is increasing among members of Congress.
What’s to Come with Facial Recognition
Ensuring Innovation Is Responsible
With facial recognition technology playing a bigger role in America, making sure it is used responsibly is very important. Those in the industry are working on AI that is unbiased and follows the latest privacy guidelines.
It is believed that in the coming years, facial recognition will be increasingly used for healthcare authentication, building smart cities and online identity checks as long as it is handled properly.
The phrase “facial recognition” is being mentioned more often in discussions about policy and what consumers buy in the United States.
Conclusion
The use of facial recognition technology is now affecting how Americans use technology, access various services and feel secure. While the innovation brings us convenience and safety, it also brings up issues about our privacy and accountability. The future of facial recognition in the U.S. will be shaped by proper regulations, equal technology and people having faith in it.
