How face recognition helps identify military personnel in Ukraine and why this worries experts

BBC News reports that Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition technology company, has been providing its services to the Ukrainian government. Over one thousand instances of live and deceased individual identification have been documented. Clearview, known for its ethically questionable data collection methods, compiles billions of images from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The company has faced legal challenges, including demands from Facebook, YouTube, Google, and Twitter to cease using images from their sites, and a UK fine for failing to inform individuals about data collection. The Ukrainian government’s utilization of Clearview has raised concerns among experts regarding the technology’s application during wartime. Founder Hoan Tong-Dat stated that the technology is being used to identify and verify potential targets, having been tested or purchased by 3,200 government agencies.

Facial recognition technology for identifying deceased individuals is not new, with journalist investigative group Bellingcat utilizing similar methods in 2019 to identify a Russian citizen involved in alleged torture and murder in Syria. However, Ukraine’s use is unprecedented in scale. FindClone, another company specializing in facial recognition, also collects images from publicly available sources, including Russian social media.

This allows for the identification of individuals who may not have personal accounts, particularly those residing in smaller communities with significant military presences. Critics emphasize the potential for inaccuracies, highlighting that errors could have severe consequences on the battlefield. Clearview is reportedly being used at Ukrainian checkpoints to identify “enemy” and suspicious individuals, with a government official confirming over one thousand checks have been conducted.

Concerns have been raised about the technology’s reliability, with expert Conor Healy warning that it should not be used to determine life or death. Albert Fox Kahn of the project on surveillance technology called the use of this technology a “coming human rights catastrophe,” citing instances of wrongful arrests in peaceful settings and the potential for misidentification leading to fatal consequences. Clearview claims a 99% accuracy rate, contingent on image quality and other factors.

However, the company’s data collection practices – gathering images from platforms like Facebook and VKontakte without explicit consent – have drawn criticism and legal scrutiny. Individuals reading this article are likely already present in Clearview’s database. The BBC has contacted the Ukrainian government for comment but has not received a response.

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