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China is using AI to profile Uighur Muslims
Why is it in news?
- The Chinese government has drawn wide international condemnation for its harsh crackdown on ethnic Muslims in its western region, including holding as many as one million of them in detention camps.
- Now, documents and interviews show that authorities are also using a vast, secret system of advanced facial recognition technology to track and control the Uighurs.
More in news
- Use of artificial intelligence for racial profiling: It is the first known example of a government intentionally using artificial intelligence for racial profiling.
- Keeping records: The facial recognition technology, which is integrated into China’s rapidly expanding networks of surveillance cameras, looks exclusively for Uighurs based on their appearance and keeps records of their comings and goings for search and review.
- Usher to automated racism: The practice makes China a pioneer in applying next-generation technology to watch its people, potentially ushering in a new era of automated racism.
- Surveillance net:(1) Chinese authorities already maintain a vast surveillance net, including tracking people’s DNA, in the western region of Xinjiang.(2) Police are now using facial recognition technology to target Uighurs in wealthy eastern cities like Hangzhou and Wenzhou and across the coastal province of Fujian, said two of the people.
- Segregation based on race or ethnicity:(1) A new generation of start-ups catering to Beijing’s authoritarian needs are beginning to set the tone for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.(2) From a technology standpoint, using algorithms to label people based on race or ethnicity has become relatively easy.(3) Companies like IBM advertise software that can sort people into broad groups.
Source
The Hindu