Microsoft said it has decided to pull out from its investment in AnyVision, an Israeli facial-recognition firm whose systems are used to scan faces at military checkpoints. The move comes after a Microsoft audit showed AnyVision does not engage in mass surveillance in the West Bank, as some reports said. However, Microsoft said the reports highlighted the challenge presented of being a minority investor in a company that sells sensitive technology, “since such investments do not generally allow for the level of oversight or control that Microsoft exercises over the use of its own technology.”
In general, Microsoft said it will no longer take minority stakes in companies that sell facial recognition technology. This change in policy will give the company greater oversight and control over the use of sensitive technologies, it said.
AnyVision raised USD 74 million during an investment round in June, from a group of companies including Microsoft’s Venture Fund, Israel Hayom reported.
