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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn Facial Recognition Technology War (TV/R)
HEADLINE: LogOn: Scanning the Corpse's Face: Ukrainians Are Using Facial Recognition Technology to Identify Russian Soldiers
TEASER: The software may act as a deterrent to those who might commit war crimes, says a tech CEO
PUBLISHED: 6/21/2022 at 9:20am
BYLINE: Julie Taboh
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER: Julie Taboh
SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Skype, Newsfeeds: Reuters, AP, Clearview AI
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 1:58
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR: ))
((INTRO))
[[Facial recognition technology could be changing the face of war. VOA’s Julie Taboh reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
Though controversial, U.S. police are increasingly relying on facial recognition software to identify suspects and victims. Now the technology is being used in war, to identify the dead, potential enemies, and suspects of war crimes.
[[Radio track: Leonid Tymchenko ((Lee-oh-need teem-Chenko)) is head of the department of information and analytical support of the National Police of Ukraine. He spoke with VOA via Skype.]]
((Leonid Tymchenko, National Police of Ukraine))((Skype))
“Facial recognition; it's one of the very, very useful tools which we use right now, and it works perfect. Inside the National Police of Ukraine, we have more than five departments who use it.”
((NARRATOR))
Clearview AI, a U.S. facial recognition software firm, has given Ukrainian officials use of its database containing billions of faces to check the identities of Russian soldiers. The company collects images from sites like Facebook and other public websites, including from Russian social media sites such as VKontakte, or VK.
[[Radio track: Hoan Ton-That ((Juan Ton-Tat)) is co-founder and CEO of Clearview AI. He spoke with VOA via Skype.]])
((Hoan Ton-That, Clearview AI CEO))((Skype))
"They had photos of two deceased soldiers; one of them had identification on them, and the other one did not. And so just from the photo of the face, they were able to run it through the system. And they've been able to identify the online social media profile of the person who's now deceased."
((NARRATOR))
Ton-That says that if people know their identity will eventually be determined from a photo snapped by a phone, the technology may act as a deterrent to war crimes. But Clearview is controversial in the U.S. because of how it obtains photos and how its software has been used.
((Radio track: Technology researcher Stephanie Hare is the author of a new book, "Technology is not Neutral." She spoke with VOA via Skype.))
((Stephanie Hare, Technology Researcher))((Skype))
"That Clearview AI's business model is taking your face data that you've put up, maybe on an online photo album, or on your social media accounts, for a very different purpose, and turned it into a weapon that's now being used in a theater of war."
((NARRATOR))
Critics of Clearview advocate for stronger regulations of the technology. But for those grappling with wartime atrocities, facial recognition software is a tool to keep.
((Julie Taboh, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 21, 2022 09:49 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
