Ban facial recognition is the call from major music festivals
The ban facial recognition initiative was started by Fight for the Future.
Facial recognition is upon us.
With major companies investing in it and venues already experimenting with it, it’s a matter of time before your face is in some sort of database.
But this doesn’t have to be our fate.
Music festivals and event organizations can refuse to use this invasive and potentially racially biased technology which puts music fans at risk of being unjustly harassed, detained, judged or even deported.
Activist group Fight for the Future have managed to get over 40 music festivals, including US majors such as Coachella, Bonnaroo and SXSW to pledge to ban the use of facial recognition at its events.
Other festivals joining the pledge includes EDC Festivals, Electric Forest, Holy Ship!, Lollapalooza and Sonic Bloom, among others.
Fight for the Future
It is to be noted that a number of festivals approached by Fight for the Future to join the cause were unable to do so, rather opting to cite “might use,” including Burning Man, Life Is Beautiful and Outside Lands. The festivals who have no issue with facial recognition say the technology is opt-in only and can be regulated easily.
This is where you come in. Obviously the ticket-buyer holds all the power, so if you agree with Fight for the Future, head on over to their website and sign the petition urging festivals to ban this invasive technology.
If they get enough messages like “I don’t want to support any event that’s using it,” surely they will join the pledge.
Obviously facial recognition companies are playing the ‘safety’ card, but in terms of music and freedom of expression, “Big Brother” isn’t exactly an incubator thereof.
It’s up to music festivals and it’s patrons to ban facial recognition and safeguard our privacy in one of the only remaining areas we can express ourselves freely.
Sourced
