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The Israeli authorities are using an experimental facial recognition system, known as ‘Red Wolf’, to track Palestinians and even more ‘scientifically’ and invasively undermine their freedom of movement. This is certified in a new report by Amnesty International, entitled ‘Automated Apartheid’, which frames this system as one component of an ever-widening surveillance system by which the Israeli government manages to strengthen its control over Palestinians.

The study, which was carried out through the use of a series of evidence gathered in the field in 2022, the examination of publicly accessible resources, and the testimonies of Palestinian residents and serving and discharged military personnel, refers specifically to the only cities in the occupied Palestinian territories that have Israeli settlements within them, namely Hebron and East Jerusalem.
Therefore, when active, the ‘Red wolf’ scans the face of every Palestinian passing through a checkpoint, obviously without the knowledge or consent of the person in question, whose face is compared to the biometric data already on file. Thus, if the system certifies that the person is wanted or that an entry ban exists against him, he will not be able to proceed on the route.

In East Jerusalem, the facial recognition system was upgraded in 2017, the Israelis are in control of thousands of CCTV cameras. Amnesty has mapped them all: there would even be one or two every five metres.
The impact of this painstaking control on the movements of Palestinians is incredibly significant.