Facial recognition law in China
Despite the prevalence of facial recognition-based COVID-19 surveillance tools and techniques, China does not have a facial recognition law to protect its residents’ facial data. Oftentimes, neither the public nor the government knows where people’s facial images are stored, how they have been used, who might use or misuse them, and to what extent. This reality is alarming, particularly factoring in the wide range of unintended consequences already caused by good-intentioned measures and mandates amid the pandemic. Biometric data are matters of personal rights and national security. In light of worrisome technologies such as deep-fake pornography, the protection of biometric data is also central to the protection of the dignity of the citizens and the government, if not the industry as well. This paper discusses the urgent need for the Chinese government to establish rigorous and timely facial recognition laws to protect the public’s privacy, security, and dignity amid COVID-19 and beyond.
History
Published in
Journal of Medical EthicsPublisher
BMJVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Citation
Su, Z., Cheshmehzangi, A., McDonnell, D., Bentley, B. L., da Veiga, C. P., & Xiang, Y. T. (2022) 'Facial recognition law in China', Journal of Medical Ethics. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2022-108130Print ISSN
0306-6800Electronic ISSN
1473-4257Cardiff Met Affiliation
- Cardiff School of Technologies
Cardiff Met Authors
Barry BentleyCopyright Holder
- © The Authors
Language
- en