Dissertation
Emotional privacy: a philosophical investigation of emotion recognition technology
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being designed to recognise our emotions. From smart glasses and social robots to workplace monitoring tools and healthcare applications, new technologies claim to infer how we feel by analysing our faces, voices, movements, and other bodily signals. But what would happen if these systems became fully functional?
- Author
- Alexandra Prégent
- Date
- 15 September 2026
This dissertation explores that question. Rather than focusing on the current shortcomings of emotion recognition technologies, it investigates their potential impact if they worked as intended. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, affective science, and privacy theory, the research examines the nature of emotions and emotional expressions and how they shape our social lives.
The thesis argues that emotions are not merely private inner experiences. The ability to control how we express our feelings is essential for self-presentation, social relationships, and social cooperation.