rén liǎn shí bié人脸识别rú hé如何ràng让kàng yì zhě抗议者chén mò沉默
The Georgian government has installed a large number of surveillance cameras in cities and uses facial recognition software purchased from a Russian company.
This system can find a face in a crowd and compare it with photos stored by the government.
Even when the lighting is poor or part of a face is covered, it may still recognize a person.
Many citizens took to the streets to protest because they were dissatisfied with the election results and the government's decision to suspend plans to join the European Union.
Police identify them through video recordings and notify them weeks or months later that they must pay heavy fines.
Some people have also had their bank accounts frozen and could only ask others for help.
Later, covering one's face, blocking roads, and holding unregistered gatherings could also be punished.
Protesters began to fear chanting slogans, holding signs, taking photos, or wearing distinctive clothing. Some changed their travel routes, and more people eventually stopped participating.
Facial recognition does not only record a single event; it can also reveal how many times a person has participated and how long they stayed.
The cameras do not use force directly, but they make people live with long-term anxiety and make it increasingly difficult to express opinions publicly and take part in gatherings.