Electronic surveillance

Chinese police literally use 'Skynet' surveillance system

It doesn't link a system of killer robots ticked off at the human race (just yet). But Chinese police are expanding the use of futuristic facial recognition tech powered by a system dubbed "Skynet" to track a database of blacklisted individuals.

Unlike in the "Terminator" franchise where Skynet is controlled by machines to connect genocide-minded bots, this version is a tool for law enforcement and security that's being tested out for added security at two sessions of China's parliament this year, according to Reuters.

The technology is the same we saw Chinese police use last month to monitor travelers leading up to Chinese New Year. Officers wear augmented-reality smartglasses that recognize facial features and license plates in near real time, checking them against a database of suspects.