Israeli Military Uses Facial Recognition Technology to Identify and Detain Palestinians in Gaza
In a shocking revelation, it has been reported that the Israeli military has been using facial recognition technology to identify and detain Palestinians in Gaza. The program, which was started late last year, has been used to conduct mass surveillance in the region, collecting and cataloging the faces of Palestinians without their knowledge or consent.
One such case is that of Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, who was detained after walking through an Israeli military checkpoint along Gaza’s central highway. Within minutes, he was singled out, blindfolded, and led away for interrogation. It was later revealed that he had been identified through facial recognition technology and was on an Israeli list of wanted persons.
The facial recognition program, run by Israel’s military intelligence unit, relies on technology from Corsight, a private Israeli company, and Google Photos. Despite concerns raised by Amnesty International and others about the misuse of the technology, the Israeli military continues to use it in Gaza.
The use of facial recognition technology in a war zone like Gaza raises serious ethical and human rights concerns. Critics argue that it could lead to the dehumanization of Palestinians and result in innocent civilians being wrongly targeted as militants.
Despite the Israeli military’s claims that the program is necessary for security and intelligence operations, many question the legality and morality of using such invasive technology on a civilian population. The case of Mosab Abu Toha serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers and consequences of unchecked surveillance in conflict zones.
