A report published by the British Middle East Eye website revealed that the international software company Microsoft intends to withdraw its investment in an Israeli company accused of employing face recognition technology in monitoring the Palestinians.

The report says that Microsoft intends to sell stakes belonging to it in the Israeli company, "One Vision", after an auditor revealed that Israel is using the company's technology to track the Palestinians at checkpoints in the occupied West Bank.

And since one of the arms of Microsoft-based Tel Aviv-based company invested $ 74 million in "AniVision" last June, the international software company started criticizing after it revealed a report broadcast by the American TV channel NBC in Last October, it was a "secret military surveillance project throughout the West Bank."

According to the site, a review conducted by Microsoft, led by former US Attorney General Eric Holder, revealed the day before yesterday that, despite the company's use of technology at checkpoints at checkpoints, it does not amount to a collective monitoring program in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Principles and investment
Nevertheless, Microsoft says it will now distance itself from "Any Vision," the website adds, noting concerns about ethical oversight, adding that it will end investments in face recognition technology companies.

Middle East Eye notes that Microsoft previously published six ethical principles to regulate the use of facial recognition technology in 2018, before investing in Any Vision.

The sixth principle says, "We will defend guarantees of democratic freedoms for individuals in law enforcement monitoring scenarios, and we will not deploy face recognition technology in scenarios that we believe will put these freedoms at risk."

Microsoft's face recognition technology faces widespread criticism, as rights groups say it can lead to political control and limit freedom of expression.

Observers point to the use of this technology by China against its Uighur population, and that 90 human rights groups from all over the world published in Tirana, Albania a declaration calling for the cessation of facial recognition technology that allows collective monitoring.

The declaration says that human rights groups recognize the increasing use of this technology for commercial services, government administration and police functions, but it warns against developing this technology from specialized systems to a strong integrated network capable of collective monitoring and political control.