Christ, how naive. Do you think people have changed any? Different groups are taking advantage of these records every day. It happened in the past and will in the future. The only thing limiting the most horrible examples is opportunity. That's why we must limit our exposure to those who would do us harm.
I also recommend a reading of the history behind the "bill of rights."
Are you counting the NYPD among "those who would do us harm"? Because that is what the actual exposure is here. This talk about Saudi Arabia is hypothetical nonsense. TFA is talking about the NYPD using facial recognition to suggest a possible lead to human detectives, who would then use actual judgement to decide if a match to a five year old photo of an eleven year old is something that is likely to be worth pursuing.
If your position is that this is the equivalent of SS soldiers breaking down your door and hauling you away to a concentration camp, then I honestly don't know why you aren't in the street rioting right now.
We could have a useful discussion about realistic pros and cons of things that are actually happening if people would leave off of the nonsensical hyperbole for like, a fucking second.
Definitely. Police are doing real harm (and good) every day. And are dying to get their hands on technology to make their jobs easier with no thought to negative consequences to others.
The most effective way to fix abuses is to prevent them in the first place. We restrict govts and police by design, a need recognized for centuries. If a capability can be abused, it will be abused. Not if, when. That's the last reply such a shortsighted argument will get.
(Also, am not restricted to other's problematic examples upthread.)
I also recommend a reading of the history behind the "bill of rights."