More Emotion in Facial Recognition

The CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, announced significant improvements in his facial analysis software this week. Amazon Rekognition can now identify emotions such as fear and anger in the face of any person subjected to cameras linked to the program. The new functions already allow American police to detect more subtle reactions among the crowd of immigrants who amass at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Human rights defenders began sharply criticizing Amazon, repeating what they did with the Chinese government, which is striving to refine its recognition capabilities with a fine-tooth comb. But Bezos promises to collaborate more intensely with the State Department. Expect surveillance systems even more morally shocking.