Face Equality International, a global collective advocating for the rights of individuals with facial differences, has launched the ‘Visibly Invisible’ campaign to combat bias in AI-powered facial recognition technology. The campaign aims to raise awareness among tech companies, businesses, and lawmakers about the widespread discrimination experienced by people with facial differences when using these tools.
Facial recognition technology has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, offering convenience and security for various applications, from unlocking smartphones to accessing online accounts. However, these systems are trained on datasets that predominantly reflect ‘typical’ facial features, often leading to errors and inconveniences for individuals with facial differences like scarring, burns, reconstructive surgery, or congenital malformations. These errors can manifest as difficulties uploading photos to social media, problems with banking apps, failures at e-passport gates, and issues with unlocking phones.
Survey research, although based on a sample size of 60 participants, provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals with facial differences. Key findings include:
- 32% reported difficulties uploading photos to social media platforms.
- Only 21% felt banking apps worked consistently.
- 12% experienced failures at e-passport gates.
- 25% had trouble using photo apps and 22% reported issues unlocking their phones.
Phyllida Swift, CEO of Face Equality International, emphasized in a media statement that facial differences are often overlooked in policies designed to protect communities from marginalization. Actor and TV presenter Adam Pearson, who lives with neurofibromatosis and is featured in the campaign, highlighted the irony of his face being widely visible in film and television while facial recognition software fails to recognize him.
Face Equality International is advocating for further research into AI facial recognition tools, including:
- Identifying points of failure and technological glitches.
- Benchmarking error rates with individuals without facial differences.
Addressing the legislative framework is also crucial. Facial differences are slowly gaining recognition as disabilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, but they have often been excluded from traditional DEI and disability inclusion initiatives. This means that individuals with facial differences may face discrimination without the legal protections afforded to those with functional impairments.
While there may be no immediate solutions, Face Equality International’s campaign aims to bring attention to this important issue. By raising awareness and advocating for change, the campaign hopes to ensure that AI technology is inclusive and does not perpetuate discrimination.
