Fears raised over facial recognition use at Moscow protests

People protesting against a court decision ordering Navalny jailed for nearly three years, in downtown Moscow on Feb 2, 2021. A lawyer with Moscow-based human rights group Agora said that several of his clients were brought in for questioning on Jan 31 after being picked out by cameras in Moscow. — AFP

TBILISI: Russian authorities are deploying facial recognition cameras to identify protesters during rallies in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in Moscow, human rights groups said, warning that the technology is being used to stifle peaceful dissent.

With more than 105,000 cameras, Moscow boasts one of the world's most comprehensive surveillance systems – which authorities say has helped cut crime and enforce coronavirus lockdown restrictions.