AI Weekly: A biometric surveillance state is not inevitable, says AI Now Institute

In a new report called "Regulating Biometrics: Global Approaches and Urgent Questions," the AI Now Institute says that there's a growing sense among regulation advocates that a biometric surveillance state is not inevitable. The release of AI Now's report couldn't be more timely. As the pandemic drags on into the fall, businesses, government agencies, and schools are desperate for solutions that ensure safety. From tracking body temperatures at points of entry to issuing health wearables to employing surveillance drones and facial recognition systems, there's never been a greater impetus for balancing the collection of biometric data with rights and freedoms. Meanwhile, there's a growing number of companies selling what seem to be rather benign products and services that involve biometrics, but that could nonetheless become problematic or even abusive.