Chinese gaming company Tencent is using facial recognition technology to impose a gaming curfew on underage people. Experts say it won’t be long before tech-enforced rules emerge.
Why Cities Are Banning Facial Recognition Technology | WIRED
Facial recognition software isn’t a new technology, but as it becomes more advanced, it’s having more controversial applications beyond just unlocking our smartphones. Dr. Vir Phoha, a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University, said there are many concerns about using facial recognition to enforce rules, but this is one in particular that stands out.
"My biggest concern is that … private industry becomes a tool of the state to enforce laws," Phoha told Lifewire over the phone. "And that's important because there may not be enough checks and balances within … private industry to make sure that there's transparency into how things are done internally."
Tencent said it was using facial recognition technology to catch children playing video games late into the night. China passed a bill in 2019 that imposed a gaming curfew on anyone under 18, limiting the time spent playing games to weekday and weekend hours. So while the technology may seem invasive, it was created to solve the problem of children flouting curfews.
