Face-Recognition Technology

Proponents of face-recognition say that if camera had been linked to a computer database with Atta's picture, one of the terrorists, security personnel could identify him and remove him from the plan. They say that it is possible to set up a system to find suspicious people out of a crowd by digitally photographing their face. The possibility of preventing a terrorist attack by spotting the bad guys is tempting. Face-recognition sweeps have been used at football stadiums,in crowded street, and airports in the hope of doing just that. However, the world's best face-recognition device is the human brain. For instance, parents can tell the difference between identical twins, even though they are exactly the same. But, unlike a fingerprint or an iris, the face does not show easy-to separate patterns. Thus, computers may make mistakes in identifying people. Buying the costly equipment seems wasteful if it makes a lot of mistakes. People who is mistakenly identified as a criminal could sue a small or foot ball stadiumfor using an inadequate system and the amount awarded in such a lawsuit could easily be higher than the cost of the system itself.