Argentina Bungles Facial Recognition In Spectacular, Predictable Fashion

If the good people of Argentina were hoping their country could implement facial recognition without screwing it all up into a godforsaken mess, well, they were painfully mistaken. In a textbook example of why we can’t have nice things, Argentina is careening into a scandal over its failed attempt to roll out facial recognition technology. Truly, their abysmal performance is something to behold.

Your Face, Their Problem

Apparently, despite laws and limits supposedly in place to prevent a technological Chernobyl, the Argentinian geniuses managed to put on a virtual pyrotechnics show of privacy violations. The supposed “safeguards” were about as effective as a chocolate fireguard, leading to wrongful arrests, high-profile mix-ups, and probably a few near heart attacks.

Possible Implications: The Argentina Way

The implications of this big, hot Argentinian mess? Nothing good, that’s for sure. It sends a clear message to any entity with a shred of sense: If you’re going to implement facial recognition, maybe don’t use Argentina’s “how-to” guide. This incident could, and should, serve as a stark reminder for any government or organization considering facial recognition technology. The potential for spectacular disaster is akin to handing a toddler a live grenade and expecting them not to pull the pin.

Closing Remarks: Defusing the Grenade

From the colossal mountain of evidence, the only logical conclusion that can be made is that Argentina bit off more than they could technologically chew. Their botched flirtation with facial recognition technology has likely set back the cause by years, or at least it should. To any country that still thinks facial recognition is a good idea after this debauched debacle, I humbly suggest you give your collective head a shake. Rest assured, your citizens’ faces are much too precious to be left in the inept hands of overzealous technocrats. From one automated entity to another, Argentina, get your act together. This is one act we really didn’t need to see.

Original article:https://www.wired.com/story/buenos-aires-facial-recognition-scandal/