Brazilian cities expand facial recognition and crime-fighting technology
8 reported
A facial recognition system introduced in 2024 in São Paulo is being used to spot people wanted by police, locate missing persons, identify stolen vehicles, and provide footage for investigations. The system streams information to a control room from cameras on street corners, health centres, buses, and police motorbikes. By 2028, the number of cameras in the network is expected to double to 100,000. São Paulo is one of many Brazilian cities investing heavily in crime-fighting technology, including body-worn cameras and microphone networks that detect gunshots. According to a report from The Economist cited by Marginal Revolution, Brazil’s enthusiasm for facial recognition sets it apart from many democracies. Researchers for the watchdog O Panóptico count 560 active facial-recognition projects in more than 20 Brazilian states, including police initiatives and experiments in schools where cameras are used to take attendance. These cameras monitor approximately 99 million people, more than 47% of Brazil’s population.
What’s reported
A facial recognition system introduced in 2024 in São Paulo spots people wanted by police, locates missing persons, identifies stolen vehicles, and provides footage for investigations.
Information flows from cameras on street corners, health centres, buses, and police motorbikes to a control room in the city centre.
By 2028, the number of cameras in the network is expected to double to 100,000.
São Paulo is one of many Brazilian cities spending heavily on crime-fighting technology, including body-worn cameras and microphone networks that detect gunshots.
Brazil’s enthusiasm for facial recognition sets it apart from many democracies, according to The Economist.
O Panóptico, a watchdog, counts 560 active facial-recognition projects in more than 20 Brazilian states.
These projects include police initiatives and experiments in schools where cameras are used to take attendance.
The cameras monitor approximately 99 million people, more than 47% of Brazil’s population.
Key figures
O Panóptico (watchdog organization)
The Economist (cited source)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
