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For what it's worth, the power dynamics might be different here. During cryptowars, we were trying to give people a power to hide from the state while the state already had the power to hide from the people. With this technology, while fun and gimmicky examples (like phone unlock, AR) come to mind for small scale uses, only dark and dangerous uses immediately come to mind which benefit the ruling class.
> With this technology, while fun and gimmicky examples (like phone unlock, AR) come to mind for small scale uses, only dark and dangerous uses immediately come to mind which benefit the ruling class.

That may say more about you than about the technology. You could use it to find the lost kid in a crowded stadium. Or find lost people with dementia anywhere.

And you are being incredible optimistic. No one is arguing that facial recognition can't be beneficial. We are discussing whether those pros outweigh the cons and honestly, with most government track record... I cannot say with a shred of confidence this technology will not be abused, both privately & publicly, without heavy, thoughtful and tech-savy regulations.
I will say with full confidence that this technology most certainly will be abused, regardless of whether it is regulated, and that the most flagrant abuses will be committed by organizations that are practically above the law. No regulation will stop the Chinese government, and there is not and never will be the political will to push through regulations powerful enough to constrain the NSA.

However, the regulations will be powerful enough stop any beneficial uses of facial recognition because say, the CDC, will follow the regulations to the letter and not spend the GDP of a South American nation in fighting it tooth and claw.