Okay, so hear me out… you know how we talk about AI and data being everywhere? Turns out, it’s not just in our phones and social media feeds anymore. Big news dropped recently: over 200 churches across the US are now using airport-grade facial recognition technology.
And here’s the kicker – most congregants have no idea this is happening.
Companies are actually partnering with these churches, and they’re collecting a whole lot of data. We’re talking about more than just attendance. Think social media activity, and even health records, all being aggregated into digital profiles of people who attend these churches.
The whole point? To identify and target individuals for what they call ‘targeted ministry.’ Basically, they’re using tech to figure out who might be struggling or who they want to reach out to, based on their personal data.
Let’s be real, this raises some serious privacy flags. Religious data is incredibly personal. The idea of it being collected and used in this way, especially without people knowing, feels… off. It’s a bit of a legal gray area too, with not many regulations specifically covering biometric surveillance in religious spaces.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the implications of this. It feels like a new frontier for data harvesting, and it’s happening in a place where people usually feel safe and private. It makes you wonder where else this kind of technology is quietly being implemented.
What do you guys think about this? It’s definitely something to keep an eye on as technology continues to weave itself into every part of our lives.