A recent test by a Dutch journalist sent shockwaves through the security and executive protection community. Using AI-powered glasses built from consumer hardware, open-source artificial intelligence, and publicly available data, the journalist demonstrated real-time identification of complete strangers — no law-enforcement databases, no government systems required.
Within seconds of looking at someone, the system revealed names, employers, LinkedIn profiles, and digital footprints.
For the general public, this is unsettling.
For professionals in security, investigations, and executive protection, it represents a fundamental shift in the operating environment.
Surveillance Has Gone Public
This technology marks a turning point. Surveillance is no longer limited to governments or well-funded organizations.
It’s surveillance by anyone.
As long as data exists publicly and AI tools continue to advance, attempts to regulate or restrict this technology will only slow it — not stop it. The barrier to entry has collapsed, and the implications are profound.
Ethical Use vs. Uncontrolled Harm
When used ethically, with strict controls, informed consent, and privacy considerations, AI-powered identification tools can strengthen professional security operations. They can help organizations assess risk, protect executives, and respond faster to legitimate threats.
But the same technology, when placed in the hands of the general public without safeguards, introduces serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences.
For example:
- A domestic violence survivor intentionally hiding from an abusive spouse
- A stalking victim attempting to rebuild anonymity
- A protected witness, whistleblower, or high-risk individual trying to stay off the radar
In these cases, real-time facial recognition is not a security enhancement — it is a weapon. If an abuser or hostile actor has access to the same tools, anonymity disappears instantly.
This is where the line between professional, ethical use and uncontrolled exploitation becomes critical.
Why This Matters for Security & Executive Protection
Real-time facial recognition in the hands of the public introduces serious risks, including:
- Instant identification of principals in public spaces
- Loss of anonymity during movements, travel, and advances
- Stalkers or hostile actors gaining real-time confirmation of a target
- Increased danger for individuals actively trying to remain hidden
- Low-profile and low-signature protection tactics losing effectiveness
For years, anonymity in public environments served as a critical buffer for protective operations — and for vulnerable individuals. That buffer is rapidly disappearing.
A Clear Turning Point
We are now operating in a world where:
- Seeing someone can mean knowing everything about them
- Being in public can mean being fully exposed
- Physical presence is inseparable from digital identity
When every face becomes a searchable dataset, the traditional executive protection playbook must evolve — and so must our ethical standards.
The Bigger Question for Our Industry
The real challenge is no longer whether this technology will be adopted — it already has been.
The question is:
How do we leverage powerful tools responsibly while protecting privacy, personal safety, and vulnerable populations?
As an industry, we must begin addressing:
- Ethical boundaries for AI-assisted identification
- Counter-recognition and anti-identification strategies
- New identity-protection standards for executives and at-risk individuals
- The unintended consequences of public access to surveillance technology
Professional use must be deliberate, justified, and privacy-conscious — because misuse doesn’t just erode trust, it can put lives in danger.
Staying Ahead of the Threat Curve
At Bearden Investigative Agency, we continuously monitor emerging technologies and evolving threat vectors that impact personal safety, corporate security, and executive protection. Understanding both the capabilities and the ethical implications of these tools is essential to mitigating risk — and preventing harm.
The rules have changed. Awareness, preparation, and responsible adaptation are no longer optional.
Privacy isn’t dead — but protecting it now requires a smarter, more ethical approach.