The deadly terrorist attacks that struck Brussels recently have brought back the debate on public surveillance.
The deadly terrorist attacks that struck Brussels recently have brought back the debate on public surveillance. Technologies like facial recognition, advanced detectors for weapons and cameras that can detect nervous people are just some of the solutions that can be put in place at this stage, but the question is if the general public would be willing to accept such intrusive methods.
European officials are still grappling with the issue, trying to find a solution would not intrude the private life of citizens, but would prevent any more terrorist attacks. Experts point out that sophisticated technologies by themselves are not the answer, but solutions like facial recognition can identify known suspects.
According to a report by The Star, security expert and academic Pierluigi Paganini has said that had facial recognition technology been properly implemented, the security forces could have been alerted of the bombers at Brussels airport.
"For the technology to be effective, it is, however, necessary to have several cameras operating, especially, in the case of an airport, at the transit zones," he said.
The report also quotes Paul Murphy from IndigoVision as saying that a typical system could require 2,000 cameras and powerful computer servers. Such systems are currently in use at Israel’s Ben Gurion International, major hubs in the Middle East and an airport in South America.
"Only in the last two years has it become affordable and reliable," he told The Star. "The cost has been prohibitive until recently and also the technology wasn't quite good enough."
But technology is still not as efficient as a human, he warns. A facial recognition system could be thrown off by a suspect wearing a headgear. Reports suggest at least one of the Brussels bombers were wearing a hat.
There is no doubt that biometric technology like facial recognition will assist authorities in gaining more control over the issue. The question is how open people are to being under surveillance.
A recent report from ABI research suggests the global biometrics market will grow 118 percent from 2015 to US$30 billion by 2021. Rising tensions and pressing identification issues in both the Middle East and Europe are some of the major causes for this increase, the report said.
If implemented properly, the technology will have a strong impact on the efficiency of security forces. But in the end, it is up to the governments and people to decide how far they would be willing to compromise on privacy concerns to ensure stronger security.