A Systematic Review of Facial Recognition Methods: Advancements, Applications, and Ethical Dilemmas

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of facial recognition systems, its advancements, applications, and the ethical dilemmas it presents in today's digital era. It examines the latest developments in facial recognition, including techniques, essential libraries, datasets, and ongoing research to enhance system robustness and expand application areas. The advantages of facial recognition, especially in security enhancement, are discussed, along with the controversies and concerns it raises, including privacy intrusion, bias, discrimination, and the potential for ubiquitous surveillance. The paper underscores the pressing need for comprehensive regulation and responsible use of this system. The emergence of AI-generated faces and their increasing realism present new challenges, particularly for identity verification processes. The societal implications of these developments, both beneficial and risky, are explored, including the threats associated with deepfakes and misinformation. The paper also discusses the potential applications of facial recognition in healthcare, education, and retail, while addressing the privacy issues that its use in these sectors may raise. It further delves into the key issues related to facial recognition, such as lack of transparency and consent, mass surveillance, racial bias and discrimination, data breaches, and accuracy issues. Looking ahead, the paper emphasizes the need to address ethical and privacy issues as the systems evolve, the importance of implementing robust regulations, ensuring transparency in data collection and use, and the continuous monitoring of the societal impact of these systems.