Boston Bombing Spurs Demand for Facial Recognition and Surveillance Technology

The bombing at the Boston Marathon on April 15 has sparked increased interest in sophisticated surveillance technologies, especially facial recognition and analytic cameras. Numerous cameras and personal devices recorded the incident, resulting in an abundance of visual evidence. The FBI is utilizing this footage for facial recognition to pinpoint suspects. Meanwhile, online platforms like Reddit and 4chan have also engaged in identifying individuals, although some voices have urged these activities to cease. This event is expected to speed up the adoption of such technologies in the U.S., following trends set by the UK. The market for networked facial recognition is expanding over 30% each year, with advancements in behavioral and consumer visual analysis, despite ongoing privacy concerns.