What it means

IBM's activities represent a significant breach of privacy, as thousands of unknowing New Yorkers had their images used to develop surveillance technology without their knowledge or consent. 

Furthermore, the potential for misuse and racial profiling is substantial, given the system's ability to search based on skin tone and ethnicity.

For society, this case highlights the urgent need for regulation and transparency in the development and use of facial recognition and surveillance technologies. It raises critical questions about the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights, as well as the potential for these technologies to exacerbate existing racial biases in law enforcement.

The incident underscores the importance of public oversight and ethical considerations in the deployment of AI-powered surveillance tools in urban environments.