Computer-vision research is hiding its role in creating ‘Big Brother’ technologies

Jathan Sadowski

doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01454-9

Computer-vision research is hiding its role in creating ‘Big Brother’ technologies

Jathan Sadowski

Department of Human Centred Computing

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Technologies that can interpret imagery have many potential applications. An innovative study of papers and patents in the field suggests one use case that overrides the others: human surveillance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	41-42
Number of pages	2
Journal	Nature
Volume	643
Issue number	8070
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01454-9
Publication status	Published - 25 Jun 2025

Keywords

Computer science
Machine learning
Society

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10.1038/d41586-025-01454-9

Cite this

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title = "Computer-vision research is hiding its role in creating {\textquoteleft}Big Brother{\textquoteright} technologies",

abstract = "Technologies that can interpret imagery have many potential applications. An innovative study of papers and patents in the field suggests one use case that overrides the others: human surveillance.",

keywords = "Computer science, Machine learning, Society",

author = "Jathan Sadowski",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer Nature Limited 2025.",

year = "2025",

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day = "25",

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AU - Sadowski, Jathan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Springer Nature Limited 2025.

PY - 2025/6/25

Y1 - 2025/6/25

N2 - Technologies that can interpret imagery have many potential applications. An innovative study of papers and patents in the field suggests one use case that overrides the others: human surveillance.

AB - Technologies that can interpret imagery have many potential applications. An innovative study of papers and patents in the field suggests one use case that overrides the others: human surveillance.

KW - Computer science

KW - Machine learning

KW - Society

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009350079

U2 - 10.1038/d41586-025-01454-9

DO - 10.1038/d41586-025-01454-9

M3 - Comment / Debate

C2 - 40562898

AN - SCOPUS:105009350079

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 643

SP - 41

EP - 42

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 8070

ER -

Computer-vision research is hiding its role in creating ‘Big Brother’ technologies

Abstract

Keywords

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