Face Equality International are working with researchers at Northumbria University’s Centre for Responsible AI, on their research into how failures of facial recognition technology (‘FRT’) are harming people with facial differences.
The team at Northumbria University want to hear from people with facial differences who have experienced any kind of difficulty or worry interacting with facial recognition tech in any context. You can take part by completing one or more anonymous diary entries to explain what happened and how it affected you. The study will inform the creation of a community reporting tool to help us break through this digital barrier together, campaigning for the companies creating and using this tech to do better.
If you have a facial difference, please visit the Northumbria University external webpage and participate.
FRT is fast becoming a daily necessity for many of us. Whether accessing banking apps, going through passport control or even just going shopping, many of us interact with FRT in our everyday lives – whether we know it or not.
58% of respondents with a facial difference had had trouble getting recognised by passport e-gates at border control, 46% had struggled with secure apps (such as those used by banks) which use FRT, and 38% had difficulties using their face to unlock their phone.
Facial recognition and the facial difference community, 2024 survey.