According to CBS News, in 2019, there was one surveillance camera for every 4.6 people throughout the United States. In the wake of the Patriot Act after 9/11, mass surveillance in the US has grown to resemble China.
However, it’s not only through cameras in public spaces. Fortune reports government documents declassified in 2022 revealed the CIA also collects our data with minimal guidelines and oversight. With that said, here’s how the US surveillance state has grown to resemble China and its slimming differences.
Mass surveillance in the United States and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
People often cite the Patriot Act as the basis for mass surveillance in the United States. In June 2013, Edward Snowden leaked documents revealing the federal government collected the phone records of millions of Americans. However, the Patriot Act isn’t the only law that allows the government to employ China-esque surveillance techniques. Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the National Security Agency can obtain records of any international communication.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the FBI has repeatedly come under fire for violating Section 702 guidelines. Additionally, a 2014 report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board shows government agencies’ constant surveillance under Section 702. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is an independent watchdog established by Congress in 2004. However, the statute expires at the end of 2023, and Congress will have to pass its reinstatement.
There’s a growing debate around cameras and facial recognition in the United States.
Cities across the United States are unsure about how to implement cameras using AI facial recognition, if at all. San Francisco became the first city to outright ban facial recognition technology. However, the FBI can use the DMV’s driver’s license photo database in several states, such as Illinois and Texas.
According to Pew Research Center, Americans disagree on the implementation of facial recognition for mass surveillance. About 46% of respondents support police use of the technology, whereas only about 27% think it’s a bad idea. However, about 57% of Americans agree that it won’t change crime rates across the nation.
MIT Technology Review compares the New York Police Department’s use of AI facial recognition to China. “Police in New York City have used and abused cameras to build facial recognition databases,” MIT Tech Review wrote. “Sometimes with legally questionable tactics.”
There are a few critical differences in the implementation of mass surveillance between China and the United States. In 2019, the New York Times reported that Chinese authorities used the technology to identify and detain Uighur Muslims. Whereas in the United States, the majority of surveillance cameras provide retail security.
However, law enforcement agencies nationwide are increasingly adopting facial recognition technology for mass surveillance at an alarming rate. The widespread use of the technology has led to several wrongful arrests and convictions, disproportionately affecting minorities. Additionally, The Washington Post reports a 2019 study found facial recognition software is more likely to misidentify people of color. And Pew Research reports a significant majority of Americans (70%) believe facial recognition shouldn’t be sufficient evidence for an arrest.
