For decades, Hollywood has presented audiences with futuristic disguises that were once thought only possible in science fiction. Silicone masks, fake contact lenses, and 3D printed biometrics are staples of popular spy movies like the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. But these forms of “spyware,” once found only on the silver screen, are, in fact, a reality. The advent of the internet and facial recognition technology has turned disguise work into a matter of national security. 

Just look at how our adversaries abuse facial recognition technology. Whether it is the Social Credit System or cameras lining public streets to monitor dissent against the Chinese state or oppress minority groups, China’s surveillance state is built on facial recognition technology — some of the most sophisticated in the world, due to the amount of data it can access through measures such as its National Security Law. The Chinese Communist Party’s monitoring system can essentially control the life of any individual across its regions, freeze payments and track........

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