China growing use of emotion recognition tech raises rights concerns

A facial recognition system shows faces and ages at an expo in Tokyo, Japan. A report released this week from UK-based human rights group Article 19 identified dozens of companies offering such tools in the education, public security and transportation sectors in China. — Zuma Press/TNS

Technology that measures emotions based on biometric indicators such as facial movements, tone of voice or body movements, is increasingly being marketed in China, researchers say, despite concerns about its accuracy and wider human rights implications.

Drawing upon artificial intelligence, the tools range from cameras to help police monitor a suspect’s face during an interrogation to eye-tracking devices in schools that identify students who are not paying attention.