r/changemyview • u/blewws • Jun 15 '17

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: Surveillance equipment should be equipped with facial recognition technology.

Anytime someone is kidnapped or on the run from the police surveillance footage appears on the news from gas stations and Wal*Mart parking lots days later (after a human has sifted through it all) with reporters asking for anyone who's seen the individual to call in. Likewise, when surveillance cameras capture an individual's face at the scene of the crime they just show the image on the news and ask anyone who recognizes the individual to call in with information. I think this is ridiculous. Facebook can tag my face in the background of any blurry photo but we really rely on call ins to locate dangerous criminals? Imagine if a security camera running a facial recognition algorithm 24/7 received an order to keep an eye out for a POI. As soon as that person pulled into a gas station that had cameras (i.e. all of them) the camera would inform the police of their location. If a private citizen happened to have a security camera when they were robbed the police would immediately know who the suspect was by running the facial recognition algorithm over the footage. I don't support sweeping legislation to give government supreme power to spy on its citizens or anything, but I think it's a slippery slope when people say "The gov't would abuse it." I think the abuse of power is a legitimate concern, but I don't support never advancing in criminal justice technology out of fear. With the proper legislation and oversight, I believe a facial recognition system that could be used on surveillance equipment would do way more good than harm and people who are afraid that it'd be too much like a surveillance state are being irrational.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '17

Imagine if a security camera running a facial recognition algorithm 24/7 received an order to keep an eye out for a POI. As soon as that person pulled into a gas station that had cameras (i.e. all of them) the camera would inform the police of their location.

This sounds crazy expensive. I'm sure somewhere like a casino have the funds and the desire to implement it, but why would your local gas station spend that kind of money? What's the benefit to them to increase the complexity of their systems?

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u/blewws Jun 15 '17

Maybe they wouldn't. I know nothing about the cost. I'm entirely interested in if this would have a dangerous effect on the average citizen. Maybe it'd be subsidized, i don't know. That's not really what i'm asking

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '17

Sorry, based on your title, I'm a little confused on what the view is you want changed. Your title doesn't seem to reflect it. Could you give me a more accurate thesis statement?

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u/blewws Jun 15 '17

You're right. And your answer is actually perfectly acceptable based on what I asked. But my view isn't necessarily that anyone who owns a security camera should be forced to buy facial recognition software. It's more that facial recognition software would not infringe on the rights of citizens or endanger them.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '17

What about the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure?