Israeli AI Startup Backed by Microsoft Linked to Surveillance of Palestinians - FindBiometrics

An Israeli artificial intelligence startup with investments from a number of American companies including Microsoft has been linked to the biometric surveillance of Palestinians. AnyVision is an international tech company based in Israel that raised $78 million in June from an investment group including American tech giant Microsoft. One of their flagship products -- dubbed'Better Tomorrow' -- is a platform that leverages biometrics and facial recognition software to track objects and people on live video, including across independent camera feeds. NBC and Israeli news site Haaretz report that this technology is at the centre of a military surveillance operation focused in the West Bank at "at least 27 checkpoints", according to a statement from the Israeli Defence Forces from February. The aim of the operation is to "upgrade the crossings" and "deter terror attacks" using a network of 1,700 cameras featuring biometric and facial recognition capabilities.