Chinese technology giant Alibaba is embroiled in a controversy about a face-recognition software feature that could be used by Chinese authorities in their campaign of suppression against the Uighur ethnic group.

The face-detection software function, developed by Alibaba’s cloud computing business, was noticed by researchers at the U.S.-based surveillance industry researcher IPVM last week. They realized that the function, in Alibaba’s Cloud Shield service, could be used to detect ethnic Uighurs whose faces appear on videos.

Such information could potentially be used by police for racial profiling, IPVM said.

Alibaba responded to the media reports by saying it had removed “any ethnic tag” from the software, adding that it was dismayed to learn that its cloud division had developed a function that could identify members of a minority group.

Beijing has been heavily criticised for its treatment of its Muslim minorities, even more so after recent reports surfaced about indoctrination camps using an “anti-terrorism cirriculum”. Facial detection technology has been cited as a potential tool to help authorities identify Uighurs for “re-education”.

Alibaba is not the only company accused of producing facial recognition technology for racial profiling. According to IPVM, the cloud division of Huawei has been testing such technology, while another firm, Hikvision, has been selling surveillance equipment that contains these functions.

News about Huawei’s involvement prompted the resignation of the company’s top communications official in Denmark, Tommy Zwicky, who was reportedly asked to stay quiet about the controversy. French footballer Antoine Griezmann has resigned his role as a Huawei spokesperson over the incident.

According to Uighur rights activist Ilshat H. Kokbore, face-recognition technology is an effective tool used by China to suppress ethnic minorities.

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