Source: Le Monde

Le Monde provides an in-depth investigation into the quiet but rapid proliferation of facial recognition technology across the globe. The article details how this form of biometric surveillance is being integrated into various aspects of daily life, often with little public debate or explicit consent. The deployment spans from law enforcement and border control in airports to more mundane applications like accessing schools, workplaces, and even commercial venues. This discreet expansion is creating a worldwide infrastructure of surveillance with profound implications for privacy and civil liberties.

The report highlights a significant disparity: while the technology advances and spreads at an exponential rate, the legal and regulatory frameworks to govern its use are lagging far behind in most countries. This legal void allows for potential abuses, such as mass surveillance, misidentification leading to false accusations, and the suppression of dissent. The article serves as a global survey of the current state of facial recognition, mapping its use across different continents and underscoring the urgent need for a robust international conversation about establishing clear and enforceable rules to protect fundamental human rights from the reach of this powerful technology.