Privacy advocates are accusing Microsoft of investing in surveillance technology that is used to spy on people whose human rights are being trampled upon by authorities. In particular, activists criticize the tech giant’s funding of AnyVision, an Israeli facial recognition firm that provides technology used to carry out surveillance on Palestinians, but also on residents of Russia and Hong Kong.
Microsoft has in the past acknowledged the risks of facial recognition technology being used for unethical purpose, and has pledged to follow the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, notice and consent, and lawful surveillance in its approach to this technology. However, according to Shankar Narayan of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “there’s a demonstrable gap between action and rhetoric in the case of most big tech companies and Microsoft in particular.”
Read more: Microsoft Slammed For Investment In Israeli Facial Recognition ‘Spying On Palestinians’