Crime & Justice

Bots Are Terrible at Recognizing Black Faces. Let's Keep it That Way.

BANOPTICON
opinion
190108-samudzi-bots-black-face-lede_qpwtmv
Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast

Color photography was optimized for light skin. Facial recognition technologies are just carrying on color film’s historical non-registry of black people.

In a country where crime prevention already associates blackness with inherent criminality, why would we fight to make our faces more legible to a system designed to police us?

I haven’t watched too many dystopia science fiction movies, but I have seen more than one where the protagonists attempt to somehow...

This won't last long. One year of fearless reporting for only $35 $25.

Don't miss this subscriber exclusive article. 

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.