Analytics Insights: The Ethical Considerations of Using Emerging Technologies in Physical Security

Originally Published on SourceSecurity.com

What are the biggest ethical considerations of using emerging technologies in physical security?

Physical security has entered a transformative area, catalyzed by advanced AI models. While these technologies enhance safety, their deployment raises discussion-worthy questions – especially regarding individual rights. The potential collection and analysis of personal data, for instance, causes unease about the extent to which surveillance for the public good infringes on individual freedoms. Moreover, considerations around algorithmic biases, suboptimal equipment, poor environmental conditions, and even faulty camera placement raise another wave of concern regarding the reliability of technology for supporting sensitive decisions. Balancing the trade-off between individual rights and enhanced safety is a delicate endeavor and must be handled judiciously to ensure that security measures do not overshadow fundamental human rights. Instances of successful, responsible implementation of AI-based technologies support the fact that these challenges are not insurmountable. For instance, identity verification at passport control extracts and compares biometric features in real time without storing any data, preserving privacy while enabling streamlined security. Similarly, differentiating real-time and post-incident data processing is another way end users minimize potential invasiveness: Instead of indiscriminately collecting data, a more targeted approach that compares a specific identity with recorded footage can mitigate unnecessary privacy breaches.

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About the Author
Igal Dvir is CTO at BriefCam, a video analytics solutions provider for maximizing the value of video surveillance investments. With 25 years of experience in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Video Technologies, and System Architecture, Igal drives innovation, product vision, and strategy at BriefCam.

Previously, Igal served as CTO and VP R&D at NICE Systems, VP Products at DVTel and HTS, Director of Innovation Garage at Tyco/JCI, and Head of Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. He holds of over a dozen patents in video surveillance, analytics, and related fields and an M.Sc. Electrical Engineering and B.Sc. with honors Electrical Engineering, Tel-Aviv University.