Chinese tech companies are shaping UN facial recognition standards, according to leaked documents

  • Standards ratified in the United Nations’ ITU, which has 193 member states, are more often adopted as policies by developing nations

Surveillance cameras and a screen are displayed at a Guangzhou Juan Intelligent Tech Joint Stock Co. facial recognition display area during the CES Asia Show in Shanghai, June 11, 2019. Photo: Bloomberg

Chinese tech giants are shaping United Nations’ standards for facial recognition as well as video monitoring, according to a Financial Times report based on leaked documents.

China’s telecommunications equipment maker ZTE, security camera maker Dahua Technology and the state-owned Chinese telecommunication company China Telecom are among those proposing new international standards in the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for facial recognition, video monitoring, city and vehicle surveillance, said a Financial Times report on Monday.

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