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Microsoft curbs its facial recognition platforms in the name of privacy and security
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Published onJune 21, 2022
published onJune 21, 2022
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Back in 2020, Microsoft seemingly gave lip service to the notion ofresponsible and regulated facial recognitionusage when it publicly pushed for a “common regulatory” framework while internal communications surfaced showing the companypestering the DEAto use its platforms.
Two years later, Microsoft is starting to make good on its continued effort to be more responsible with its facial recognition platforms and announced anew limited Access policy, removing AI classifiers of sensitive attributes and bolstering its investments in fairness and transparency as part of its updates to its Responsible AI Standard.
Effective today, new customers need to apply for access to use facial recognition operations in Azure Face API, Computer Vision, and Video Indexer. Existing customers have one year to apply and receive approval for continued access to the facial recognition services based on their provided use cases.
By introducing Limited Access, we add an additional layer of scrutiny to the use and deployment of facial recognition to ensure use of these services aligns with Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard and contributes to high-value end-user and societal benefit. This includes introducing use case and customer eligibility requirements to gain access to these services.
In addition, starting June 30, 2022, existing customers will lose access to facial recognition capabilities if their applications are not approved within the year. Businesses looking to continue their access to Microsoft’s facial recognition platforms and services will need toreapply here.
Microsoft will also be retiring facial analysis functions that infer “emotional states and identity attributes such as gender, age, smile, facial hair, hair, and makeup.”
While Microsoft will no longer be feeding the needs of individual companies’ broad access to potentially detrimental facial recognition attributes and functionality, the company does support the broader use for people with disabilities and for use in applications such as Seeing AI.
Microsoft will be providing new tools to help guide companies currently using their buffet of facial recognition features to the more dieted version of resources in the coming months.
Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
Kareem is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. His passion for technology and content creation drives are unmatched, driving him to create well-researched articles and incredible YouTube videos.
He is always on the lookout for everything new about Microsoft, focusing on making easy-to-understand content and breaking down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security.
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Kareem Anderson
Networking & Security Specialist
He is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. He breaks down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security
