---
title: "AOC Warns That Facial Recognition Is “Real-Life ‘Black Mirror'”"
description: "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) compared facial recognition tech to the dystopian sci-fi series \"Black Mirror\" during a House committee meeting."
date: "2020-01-16"
modified: "2020-01-16"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/aoc-warns-facial-recognition-real-life-black-mirror"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Facial recognition"
tags:
  - "alexandria ocasio-cortez"
  - "black mirror"
  - "facial recognition"
  - "the digest"
---

# AOC Warns That Facial Recognition Is “Real-Life ‘Black Mirror'”

![Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) compared facial recognition tech to the dystopian sci-fi series "Black Mirror" during a House committee meeting.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/aoc-warns-facial-recognition-real-life-black-mirror.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Ståle Grut/NRKbeta via Flickr\</em\>*

## Dark Times

On Wednesday, the United States House Oversight and Reform Committee held a [hearing](<https://www.c-span.org/video/?468165-1/house-oversight-hearing-facial-recognition-technology&start=8618>) on facial recognition technology. During it, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez closed her remarks by comparing the tech to a [dystopian sci-fi series](<https://www.businessinsider.com/aoc-facial-recognition-similar-to-black-mirror-stuff-2020-1>).

"This is some real-life 'Black Mirror' stuff that we're seeing here," she said. "And I think it's really important that everyone really understand what's happening because... this is happening secretly, as well."

## Frowny Face

"[Black Mirror](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/bandersnatch-interactive-black-mirror>)" wasn't the only pop culture reference Ocasio-Cortez made during her five minutes of remarks. She also noted how mobile apps help bolster [facial recognition systems](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/facial-recognition-banned-everyday-life>) by collecting data — unbeknownst to users — through seemingly innocuous filters.

"People think I'm going to put on a cute filter and have puppy dog ears," she said, "and not realize that that data's being collected by a corporation or the state, depending on what country you're in, in order to surveil you potentially for the rest of your life."

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1217511889829269505

## Automating Injustice

During the hearing, Ocasio-Cortez also pointed out how the error rates for the facial recognition systems are often [highest for people of color](<https://futurism.com/amazons-face-rekognition-race-gender>) — and how those false matches can lead to false accusations of criminal activity.

"\[T\]hese technologies are almost automating injustices," Ocasio-Cortez said — and that sounds pretty dystopian to us.

**READ MORE:** [AOC is sounding the alarm about the rise of facial recognition: 'This is some real-life "Black Mirror" stuff'](<https://www.businessinsider.com/aoc-facial-recognition-similar-to-black-mirror-stuff-2020-1>) \[*Business Insider*\]

**More on facial recognition:** *[Report: Facial Recognition Should Be Banned From Everyday Life](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/facial-recognition-banned-everyday-life>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)