Good governance of facial recognition devices can better protect personal data

As the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit unfolds in Wuzhen, a water town in East China's Zhejiang province, from November 19 to 22, with artificial intelligence as its centerpiece, the broader implications of emerging technologies, including facial recognition devices, demand attention. While this technology enhances efficiency and convenience, its rapid proliferation across public and private sectors underscores the need for robust regulations to safeguard privacy, prevent misuse, and ensure ethical deployment in a society increasingly shaped by AI.

The application of facial recognition technology increased exponentially in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the momentum continuing until now. Data collection, data processing and the facial recognition device business have continued to grow thanks to the fast-paced development of information and communications technology. However, this has given rise to some security problems, including increasing the risk of personal information theft and misuse.

The use of facial recognition technology can improve personnel management and help prevent incidents. But since a person's face is the most important piece of personal information, the collection of facial data of natural persons must be lawful and devoid of potential risks.