Privacy in a World of Mass Surveillance and Facial Recognition

Facial recognition technology (FRT) and mass surveillance systems have revolutionized contemporary governance, security, and business environments, providing an unparalleled ability to identify and trace. Their spread at an accelerating pace, however, gives rise to serious privacy issues, challenging individual freedom, civil rights, and human rights. This paper discusses the effects of FRT and mass surveillance on privacy, considering ethical challenges, legal infrastructures, and social effects. By way of case studies, regulatory analysis, and multi-methods, it draws attention to biases in FRT, the dangers of uncontrolled surveillance, and the insufficiency of existing protections. The paper suggests a principled governance framework to weigh technological gains against strong privacy protections, with transparency, consent, and human rights at its center.