Macy’s, Mercedes, MGM Using Controversial Israeli Facial Recognition Tech, Bombshell Report Claims

AnyVision, a Tel Aviv-based maker of facial, body and object recognition technologies which has penned several contracts with the Israeli government and military, saw its investment from Microsoft terminated in 2019 after an ethics review revealed that its products were being used by Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

AnyVision’s facial recognition technology has reportedly made major headway in the United States, quietly attracting big name clients including Macy’s department stores, the US-based financial services unit of Mercedes-Benz, LA’s Cedar Sinai hospital, oil giant BP, home improvement chain Menards, and others, a Reuters investigation citing multiple sources said to be familiar with the operations has revealed.

The Houston Texans and the Golden State Warriors football and basketball teams also reportedly use the facial recognition system to authenticate employees entering and exiting their facilities.

Vegas – MGM

Since its creation in 2015, AnyVision has created several AI-based facial recognition systems. In February, Sputnik reported on the company’s development of a drone-based facial recognition scheme for use in the US, with a patent detailing how a drone can find the best angle to take a snapshot before referring the image to a database for identification. Recognizing Americans’ penchant for privacy, AnyVision CEO Avi Golan told Forbes that he would keep the technology “in the back of [his] pocket” until it becomes “more accepted by humanity” amid concerns by US lawmakers that the system could be used to assist in 1984-style spying on a mass scale by corporations and government.

The company has previously partnered with Israeli defence giant Rafael to create an urban warfare system using AI-assisted drones to scan and map buildings, mark people and, eventually, to identify individuals using facial recognition, ostensibly to differentiate between civilians and military targets.

The Israeli military is known to have used AnyVision’s facial recognition technology at West Bank checkpoints, and in cameras set up monitor the Palestinian Authority. The company has also worked with the Israeli government to install thermal cameras in hospitals to spot potential coronavirus-infected hospital staff and trace anyone who came into contact with them.

Sourse: sputniknews.com