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Israel utilized Google Photos and facial recognition technology to identify individuals in Gaza, erroneously linking them to Hamas. This facial recognition software, derived from Google Photos technology, has mistakenly classified numerous Gazans as being associated with Hamas. The software was initially implemented to assist the IDF in retrieving kidnapped Israelis from Gaza.
A recent article by The New York Times has illuminated the activities of Israel's military intelligence in Gaza, who have been utilizing a trial facial recognition software with disturbing outcomes.
It seems that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been employing a facial recognition software created by Corsight, a private Israeli firm. The facial recognition system, which uses technology similar to that used by Google Photos, was first deployed in Gaza after the cross-border attacks on October 7. The aim was to find Israelis who were taken by Hamas, as per intelligence authorities' reports.
The function of the program is quite straightforward — Corsight's software employs a readily available service from Google Photos, coupled with their proprietary technology. Police officers can upload images or data of individuals they are interested in to the program. The program then analyzes this information and conducts a reverse search to identify persons of interest from a collection of confirmed intelligence data and lists of wanted individuals.
The program was first designed as a means to find Israeli captives in Gaza, however, it swiftly transformed into a more wide-ranging monitoring tool used to pinpoint persons potentially linked to Hamas or other militant groups, as per the sources mentioned in the NYT report.
As the severity of Israel's land assault in Gaza increased, officials began to depend on the software. However, there were cases where the technology wrongly tagged civilians as sought-after Hamas members, as reported by an Israeli officer in the New York Times.
Despite the program delivering several positive outcomes, particularly in light of frequently handling incomplete data, blurry images with just fragments of faces, and pictures captured in poor lighting, the technology continues to struggle with precision errors.
Despite its shortcomings, Israeli troops have depended on the defective system, leading to numerous civilians being inaccurately marked as linked to Hamas by the software. An Israeli officer mentioned in the report critically questions the system's credibility, given these unwarranted detentions.
The New York Times report spotlighted an incident involving Mosab Abu Toha, a poet living in Gaza, who was mistakenly apprehended at a military checkpoint when he was trying to exit the region with his family. Toha described undergoing two days of being handcuffed, blindfolded, physically assaulted, and questioned before he was eventually set free. The soldiers justified his false imprisonment as an "error."
Corsight's technology has been criticized for producing incorrect results and wrongly recognizing people. Even though Google Photos has better abilities to identify partially hidden faces, it is said that authorities prefer Corsight due to its ability to be customized.
The employment of facial recognition technology in military activities has led to moral dilemmas, especially concerning the possibility of unjust arrests and breaches of human rights.
Opponents contend that such monitoring actions could potentially heighten conflicts and cause more instability in the area, while supporters insist that they are essential for preserving safety in disputed regions.
Certain countries utilize facial recognition technology to enhance the efficiency of air travel, however, nations such as China and Russia have been condemned for using this tech to oppress minority communities and quell opposition. The use of facial recognition tech by Israel in Gaza demonstrates a distinct use of this technology in times of conflict.
Matt Mahmoudi, an Amnesty International researcher, expresses worry about Israel's application of facial recognition technology, highlighting potential issues of Palestinians being dehumanized, as they may not be recognized as individuals.
In the past, Israel implemented facial recognition technology in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as detailed in a report by Amnesty International. In these regions, Israeli authorities utilized a local facial recognition program called Blue Wolf. This system used high-definition cameras at checkpoints and mobile applications to capture Palestinians' facial features and establish a database.
On the other hand, Gaza, from which Israel pulled out in 2005, did not have facial recognition technology. Israeli intelligence officers state that the majority of the surveillance activities against Hamas in Gaza were focused on tracking phone conversations, questioning detainees, gathering drone videos, infiltrating personal social media profiles, and breaking into telecommunication networks.
After the cross-border attacks on October 7, Israeli intelligence agencies, especially Unit 8200, ramped up their monitoring activities to collect data on Hamas fighters who violated Israel's boundaries. This involved examining footage from security cameras and reviewing videos uploaded by Hamas on various social media sites. An officer disclosed that the unit was directed to create a targeted list of Hamas participants involved in the assaults.
(Incorporating information from various sources)
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