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The U.S. and Europe Use Facial Recognition Technology. When Israel Uses It, the New York Times Calls It "Apartheid"
(Algemeiner) Ira Stoll - On May 1, the New York Times reported "Facial Recognition Powers 'Automated Apartheid' in Israel," which began: "Israel is increasingly relying on facial recognition in the...West Bank to track Palestinians." Yet the U.S. uses the same technology. A June 2021 report by the U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) found that 20 Federal agencies reported owning systems with facial recognition technology or using systems owned by other entities, such as other federal, state, local, and non-government entities. Likewise, facial recognition technology is used for security reasons throughout Europe. Airports in the Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, and the UK, as well as bus and metro systems in Berlin, Paris, and Madrid, use it for security screenings, including border control and identification. Police in the UK use this technology to scan crowds for individuals wanted for serious crimes. The Irish Department of Social Protection deploys a facial recognition system to prevent social welfare fraud. When the Times singles out Israel for negative headline treatment, it is effectively holding the Jewish state to a different standard than every other government that is using security cameras to fight crime and increase national security. The New York Times itself reported in March 2023 that Manhattan businesses, including Madison Square Garden, Macy's, and Fairway, are using facial recognition to improve security and fight shoplifting. It didn't accuse them of "apartheid."