What is automated recognition of gender and sexual orientation?
Automated recognition of gender and sexual orientation is technology that attempts to identify your gender and sexual orientation by analyzing your name, how you look and sound, or how you move. In reality, this technology can never recognize gender or sexuality, but only make a prediction.
Where is automated recognition of gender and sexual orientation being used?
A growing number of governments and companies use this technology to identify and track citizens and consumers. You can find it in places like airport check-in terminals, retail stores, and even some social media platforms.
Why is automated recognition of gender and sexual orientation a threat to LGBT+ people?
The software is often programmed to sort people into two groups – male or female. The consequences for people whose gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth can be severe. The algorithms are also programmed to reinforce outdated stereotypes about race and gender that are harmful to everyone.
Plus, the algorithm replicates biases on how lesbian, gay, and bi people look, reviving the old mistaken belief that you can predict character from appearance. And in malicious hands, such as law enforcement in countries with anti-LGBT+ laws, these tools could lead to serious harm for LGBT+ people around the world.