Activists are calling for government departments and law enforcement agencies in the US to be banned from using facial recognition technology they claim is a “profound threat to humanity”.

As several cities pass legislation preventing the technology’s use amid concerns over privacy and racial bias, activists say a nationwide ban is the best way to protect people. They say giants such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon, are being disingenuous by calling for regulation of the technology, and seeking to avoid a debate on whether it is even necessary.

“There is a reason we are calling for a total ban. We believe this is a profound threat to human rights and to human society,” Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, told The Independent. “They should not be there. Any benefit to society is far outweighed by the threats.”

The demand for a ban on its use by police departments and agencies such as the customs and border enforcement (ICE), comes amid growing concern about systems such as Amazon’s Rekognition. Earlier this year, a group of 85 faith and social justice groups wrote to the Google, Amazon and Microsoft urging them to commit to not sell the face surveillance technology to the government.

“Companies can’t continue to pretend that the ‘break then fix’ approach works,” Nicole Ozer, of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said at the time. “History has clearly taught us that the government will exploit technologies like face surveillance to target communities of colour, religious minorities, and immigrants.”

Technology comes to Bhutan Show all 19 1 /19 Technology comes to Bhutan Technology comes to Bhutan A youth drinks whiskey at a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, performs in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancers Ugyen Tshomo, 29, and Lhaden (R), 38, relax before going to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Men play snooker and gamble in a snooker hall in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, prepares to leave her house and go to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Smoke billows from machinery at a road construction site near the town of Punakha, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, checks her mobile phone as she rests at home in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths sit outside a restaurant in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths play football near a highway in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A tourist bus makes its way along the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Women share a joke in a Karaoke bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A man walks past a housing construction site in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Buddhist monks play football in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Sonam Tshering, 13, feeds cattle in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. "I would love to become a science teacher and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play for Real Madrid," said Sonam. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Houses stand in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan An electric heater and television sit in the corner of a traditional farmhouse in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Zeko, 73, poses for a portrait at his home in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. "I'm happy to have a mobile phone so I can talk to my relatives and children any time I want," Zeko said. Reuters

This month, the Washington Post revealed agents from the FBI and ICE had mined state driver license databases to obtain millions of Americans’ photographs without their knowledge or consent.

Several cities, including San Francisco and Somerville, Massachusetts, have already banned the use of the systems. The Seattle Times said the city councils of Berkeley and Oakland in California, were set to vote on similar legislation later this month.

Much of the concern about the misuse of such technology has come from employees of the companies that produce them. Last summer, more than 100 workers at Microsoft posted a letter to chief executive Satya Nadella following reports the technology was being being used by ICE agents involved in the separation of migrant children from their families.

Police are trailling controversial facial recognition technology in Stratford

“We believe that Microsoft must take an ethical stand, and put children and families above profits,” said the letter. Microsoft claimed that a blog post by an executive that said the company was “proud” its Azure Government technology was being used by the department of homeland security (DHS), was misleading.

This spring, activist shareholders at Amazon tried and failed to have the company agree not to sell its facial recognition technology to government customers. They also called for an independent review into the civil rights implications of the use of the technology.

This week, members of the House of Representatives committee on homeland security are to debate the use of facial recognition technology. Among the witnesses are senior officials from DHS and the US Secret Service, which last year announced plans to test the technology around the White House, with the goal of identifying “subjects of interest”.

There have also been questions raised abut the effectiveness and fairness of the systems. A study performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, suggested it was far less effective at identifying people of colour.

The ACLU’s own test of Amazon Rekognition using photographs of members of Congress, found 28 legislators were incorrectly matched, among them 6 members of the congressional black caucus.

Google, Amazon and Microsoft did not immediately respond to enquiries.

Ms Greer said she hoped the campaign, BanFacialRecognition.com, would encourage people to contact their local politicians and demand action.