Technology

Microsoft Says It Won’t Sell Its Facial Recognition Tech To Police Without Federal Oversight

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Microsoft will not sell its facial recognition technology to police departments until government regulations guarantee its “ethical use,” the company’s president said Thursday.

The decision came amid national protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd, who died while in police custody. The company doesn’t sell facial recognition technology to police and said this policy will continue until legislation “grounded in human rights” is passed, Microsoft President Brad Smith said at a Washington Post live event.

“We will not sell facial-recognition technology to police departments in the United States until we have a national law in place, grounded in human rights, that will govern this technology,” he said.

WATCH:

Microsoft president @BradSmi says the company does not sell facial recognition software to police depts. in the U.S. today and will not sell the tools to police until there is a national law in place “grounded in human rights.” #postlive pic.twitter.com/lwxBLjrtZL

— Washington Post Live (@postlive) June 11, 2020

The move came after Amazon announced Wednesday that police won’t be able to use its facial recognition technology for a year, and IBM said it cut its facial recognition technology endeavors Monday, CNBC reported.

IBM’s CEO Arvind Krishna and Amazon’s policies are calling for legislation to ensure the technology’s ethical use, according to CNBC.

Microsoft Corporation’s Office of Corporate Governance did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.