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Fears of 'Digital Dictatorship' as Myanmar Deploys AI


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An anti-government protest in Myanmar.

Myanmar'S use of artificial intelligence to monitor citizens' movements troubles human rights groups.

Credit: AP

Human rights groups are worried about a potential "digital dictatorship" in Myanmar due to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor citizens' movements.

Hundreds of CCTV cameras have been installed in cities like Naypyitaw, Yangon, and Mandalay as security forces work to suppress protests.

Human Rights Watch has expressed "heightened concern" over the use of cameras equipped with AI technology that scans faces and vehicle license plates to identify people on wanted lists.

Chinese technology firm Huawei said it is providing "standard ICT infrastructure equipment," not any facial or license-plate recognition technology, and "is not involved in any actual operation and data storage or processing."

Meanwhile, activists have developed crowd-sourced mobile mapping apps that let protesters know where police and military, water cannons, roadblocks, and ambulances are stationed.

From Reuters
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