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Google is testing facial recognition technology for office security “to help prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to our campuses,” according to a description of the program that was viewed by CNBC. The initial testing is taking place at one of Alphabet’s sites in Kirkland, Washington, a Seattle suburb. Interior security cameras have been collecting facial data and comparing it to images stored from employee badge images, which includes the extended workforce, to help determine if there are unauthorized people on the premises. Using the AI technology internally for campuses come as Google has conducted ongoing layoffs, seen employee protests and expects more employees to come into physical offices following the pandemic. Google has experienced at least one notable violent incident in the past. In 2018, a woman opened fire at YouTube’s office in San Bruno, California, injuring three people. Chris Rackow, Google’s vice president of global security, told staffers at an all-hands meeting last month that “extensive use of all of our video camera footage” helped to identify employees that the company said were disruptive during the protests and who made their colleagues feel threatened and unsafe, according to audio of the meeting we reviewed. Facial recognition technology has became a big topic for lawmakers in 2020, following pressure from civil rights advocates that note privacy and bias concerns.