The more new and cutting edge technologies become a common part of our lives, the more I am reminded of the statement, "The science fiction of today is the reality of tomorrow."
Just a simple look around of all the technologies that are readily available to us today will prove this fact to you. They are our reality today but were once pure science fiction.
This often makes me feel that unless something violates the laws of physics, it is possible and bound to happen, no matter how impossible it might seem to us. The only question is, how will we adopt these new technologies making sure that they don't end up turning against us.
As we are all aware, technology is a double edged sword and if are not careful, the same sword that helps us in many ways can end up hurting us. Take for example facial recognition which has taken over the mainstream in the recent years and it quickly becomes clear how careful we need to be.
Mass Surveillance
Facial recognition is something that seems to have cropped up suddenly into reality, just like partial autonomous cars. Over the years, we have seen many applications and adoption of it, such that now we unlock our phones and laptops with facial recognition as well as apply virtual filters on our face that make us look old or like a gangsta!
Although facial recognition has served as a godsent in many different areas, the concerns of privacy have continued to linger as more and more companies are using this data for other purposes that can only be seen as immoral. Also, many governments of the world are now using facial recognition everywhere in public to catch criminals but it's also hampering the privacy of the common person.
While using an app from a company is completely our choice, being under the eyes of the big brother whenever we are out and about, is not! Sure, they say that the tech is being used to deter bad actors but who's to say it is not being used for mass surveillance?
Everything we do can be monitored by the government if such a mass scale facial recognition system is deployed and while people say that if you have nothing to hide, why fear, that doesn't mean anyone should be allowed to continuously look.
Many states of many countries are now considering banning the tech to be used for surveillance and that is a welcome step. If we don't nip this in the bud, the dystopian future that is often portrayed in movies where everyone is monitored constantly, might indeed become true one day.