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> only way i see facial recognition being stopped if with some mass outcry of average joes

Privacy has never been an average-Joe issue. Average Joe isn't invoking the full wrath of the state. That's reserved for minority elite.

Those are also the people privacy protects most socially usefully. Dissidents, unpopular scientists and change agents: this is from whom privacy reforms come because this is who it usefully protects.



Varies by country - there's a lot of pushback against facial recognition in Australia .. at "average joe" stores:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/25/bunnings-...

It may yet return (probably will when the fuss dies down) but Bunnings (Hardware), K-Mart, Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Target, Big W, Myer, David Jones, Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Vintage Cellars, Liquorland, Rebel and Officeworks in Australia have all pledged "no facials".


I should clarify: the average Joe rarely forms a cohesive block opposed to state surveillance. Quotidien privacy issues are more front and centre.




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