Over the years, security technology has grown more and more sophisticated. Generally, this is a good thing, as residential and commercial properties are much safer with high-tech security systems – like the ones at AST London. However, there are some ethical considerations in security tech.
What Are the Ethical Considerations in Security Technology?
The first step toward the ethical use of security is understanding the ethical considerations.
- Privacy Concerns
While security systems do target criminals, they also target innocent people going about their daily life, monitoring them when they may not want to be monitored. This brings up confidentiality concerns, especially when a person may have their data logged into a security system.
- Facial Recognition Bias
When cameras detect potential threats based on algorithms, this poses a serious issue concerning discrimination. Unfortunately, much of the time, facial recognition bias targets marginalised communities.
- Impact on Civil Liberties
There is a serious concern surrounding the impact of surveillance on civil liberties. While – yes – CCTV can make an area safer, it can also disrupt a person’s right to privacy.
All of these are serious concerns and things everyone must consider when investing in security technology. Below, find out how to ensure ethics in security can be prioritised. Don’t forget also to check out our blog, where you can discover more security technology tips and advice.
Access Restriction
Many security technology systems need to store data to be effective. For example, a CCTV camera holds images for a set time. However, that doesn’t mean the data must be accessed unless necessary. People’s privacy stays intact by restricting access and only allowing access in a situation deemed worthy.
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Making the Use of Surveillance Known
The issue of privacy around surveillance becomes even more of a problem when the CCTV cameras are hidden or difficult to see. To ensure people’s rights to privacy aren’t thwarted in the same way, commercial and residential properties can make their use of CCTV known – perhaps by making the camera very visible or by installing a sign.
Overcoming Biased Facial Recognition
One effort to remove biased facial recognition comes from the paper CAT: Controllable Attribute Translation for Fair Facial Attribute Classification. The paper suggests using AI-generated images of human faces – rather than actual human faces – to fill in the gaps, ensuring all minorities get presented.
Achieve Ethical Use of Security Technology with AST London
Security in technology will only grow more sophisticated, and as it does, it’s important to consider ethics. Stay up to date with the latest and greatest security technology products at AST London; get in touch if you have any questions about our systems.
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