Google seems to be trying to distinguishing itself from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon with a late statement take it will not sell its facial recognition engineering science until it figure out sealed policy issues .
In ablog postabout Google ’s AI work in Asia published on Thursday , Kent Walker , senior vice chairman of world-wide affairs , noted Google ’s current outlook on facial acknowledgment as an representative of how Google is considering “ responsible development of AI . ”
Walker write that , “ facial recognition merits careful considerateness to ensure its use is aligned with our principles and values , and avoids abuse and harmful result . ”
Then he seemed to give shadowiness on other heavy Tech caller selling facial realization services : “ We continue to work with many arrangement to identify and address these challenges , and unlike some other company , Google Cloud has select not to extend worldwide - purpose facial recognition APIs before exploit through important engineering science and policy inquiry . ”
Of course it ’s indecipherable how Google will determine when those “ important ” questions have been worked through . But even if this statement is virtue signaling mean to touch good publicity , it ’s still being praise by privacy counsel — like ACLU tech and civic liberty lawyer Jake Now :
This is a BIG DEAL.@Microsofthas a face surveillance product.@Amazonhas a face surveillance merchandise .
Today@Googleannounced that it is bear off let go of one . Actions matter.https://t.co/BF1qg09b4z
— Jake Snow ( @snowjake)December 13 , 2018
The tech and civil liberty director of ACLU , Nicole Ozer , also praised the move in apublic argument . “ This is a strong first step , ” said Ozer . “ Google today prove that , unlike other companies double down on efforts to put dangerous grimace surveillance technology into the hands of practice of law enforcement and ICE [ Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] , it has a moral orbit and is willing to take action to protect its customer and communities . ”
In late month , Microsoft workers have protestedits partnership with ICE , and Amazon workers haveprotested the company ’s salesof facial acknowledgment software to legal philosophy enforcement agencies .
Though it is deserving noting that Google ’s moral compass — if you want to call it that — has recently beenguided by public and employee rebound to the company ’s effortsto provide artificial intelligence activity ( AI ) for analyzing drone footage to the U.S. Department of Defense . After public protest , Google decided not to regenerate the contract for Project Maven .
Google workershave also protest against the company ’s Dragonfly project – a project censor - friendly search engine for China , which some employees consider would transgress Google’sAI principles .
In the Wake Island of those disceptation , it certainly behoves Google to take a moral stand against unethical use of AI .
[ Google , ACLU , CNET ]
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