Interpol Pushing World Facial Recognition Database

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Interpol Pushing World Facial Recognition Database

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday October 20, 2008 @05:57AM from the here's-lookin-at-you dept.

The Register is reporting that according to some reports, Interpol will soon be pushing for a world-wide facial recognition database at the borders of all member nations. "The UK already has airport gates equipped with such technology, intended to remove the need for a human border guard to check that a passenger's face matches the one recorded in his or her passport. According to the Guardian, Interpol database chief Mark Branchflower believes that his organization should set up a database of facial-recognition records to operate alongside its existing photo, fingerprint and DNA files."

21 of 171 comments (clear)

There Already Is One by ewhac · 2008-10-20 05:58 · Score: 5, Interesting

It's called "FaceBook".
Why do you think they have that "tagging" feature for the photos? Didn't you know all this time that you've been training their face recognition database?
Schwab

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Editor, A1-AAA AmeriCaptions
1. Re:There Already Is One by bill_mcgonigle · 2008-10-20 06:26 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  "Arrest him! On Facebook it says he's a Libertarian. We can't have these free-thinkers running around!"
  Once upon a time commitment to American principles made one a patriot. Now blind support of all government policies is required.
  
  --
  My God, it's Full of Source!
  OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
2. Re:There Already Is One by Hoi+Polloi · 2008-10-20 06:40 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  This is why everyone should use goatse as their facebook image.
  "Sir, according to the records at the CIA this guy is a huge asshole."
  
  --
  It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
3. Re:There Already Is One by k1e0x · 2008-10-20 08:05 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Once upon a time commitment to American principles made one a patriot. Now blind support of all government policies is required.
  Yeah, the DHS had a pamphlet out that listed the Gadsden Flag as a symbol of domestic terrorism.
  The line between patriotism and nationalism is a thin one.. but I believe that a nationalist is a blind patriot.
  It really disturbs me when I hear John McCain talk about "Country first".. That is absolutely UN-American. Americans believe the individual needs are placed about the needs of the state. China is a place where the needs of the state come before those of the individual people, not America.
  
  --
  Bringing liberty to the masses. - http://freetalklive.com/
4. Re:There Already Is One by PopeRatzo · 2008-10-20 08:34 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'd be OK living in a world-wide "small town".
  Me, I like to live in a world-wide "big city". I don't know if you've ever lived in "small town America", but if you happen to be a different color, ethnicity or sexual orientation from most of your other "small town neighbors" life can be an absolute hell. The problem is, there are lots of stupid, small-minded people in small towns AND big cities. But in small towns, where "everybody knows you" those stupid people can really fuck things up for you, whereas in a "big city" you can move to a part of town where there are others who are more openminded. Or (and this is important) you can just be anonymous.
  This notion that somehow there is this suddenly emergent need for greater security is a complete load of bullshit being perpetrated on us by people who want to use this "security" to become more powerful.
  If anything, I'd suggest that privacy and anonymity is more important now than it ever has been. I'll go a step further and say that cameras and databases are about the worst way to make a society "secure". The only people who become more "secure" are those in the security regime.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
A big book of faces.. by onion2k · 2008-10-20 05:59 · Score: 5, Insightful

A big database, kind of like a 'book', of everyone's face? Maybe with a stack of personal information? And make it really hard to take your details off?
Like we'd ever fall for that!

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http://twitter.com/onion2k
All Your Face... by Nick+Driver · 2008-10-20 06:00 · Score: 5, Funny

All Your Face Are Belong To Us!
Re:Alternate Applications by BlowHole666 · 2008-10-20 06:06 · Score: 5, Funny

What sort of resolution does this technology require? Could the technology be used on the CCTV images?
I wonder if this could also help with my porn collection and help me figure who's face is in the random porn pictures I have.

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I smoked pot once. But I DID NOT inhale. Will you hire me?
Wrong end by larry+bagina · 2008-10-20 06:06 · Score: 4, Funny

They need to develop ass recognition software, so they can track down the goatse guy and make him pay for all the suffering he's inflicted upon us.

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Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
what is the current accurcy rate? by peter303 · 2008-10-20 06:06 · Score: 4, Insightful

Even 1% false positives or negatives in a huge application will lead to lots of problems.
An auxiliary question is whether machine accuracy exceeds humans. People make mistakes too.
1. Re:what is the current accurcy rate? by rpmayhem · 2008-10-20 06:37 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  I work for a local law enforcement agency that uses facial recognition systems. I don't work in that department, but I'm familiar with the systems. A few years ago, it was still really bad, but it's made large jumps in accuracy since that time. However, we usually have humans operating the cameras and computers, so it's always double checked. Everyone who gets booked into the jail is added to the facial recognition database. Then the officers on the road can use systems in their cars to take pictures of people and find their identity (a lot of people give us fake IDs, and a lot of those people have visited us before). Also, we have to ask permission before taking someone's picture on the street.
  
  Anyway, even at the current level of accuracy, it can't operate really well without human assistance.
In other news... by R2.0 · 2008-10-20 06:09 · Score: 4, Funny

Supplies of Groucho glasses reach a all time low...

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"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
Opt-out Where You Can by bill_mcgonigle · 2008-10-20 06:10 · Score: 4, Informative

On the New Hampshire Driver's License application/renewal form, there's a checkbox on the back that requires the State to delete your photo from its database after making the license. (Now that they're mailing the licenses though I have to wonder about their backup strategies.)
Do it where you can and get your legislature to require your DMV to do so if necessary. Also get them to reject RealID. If you can't, move here.

--
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Obligatory by Nerdposeur · 2008-10-20 06:12 · Score: 5, Funny

I, for one, welcome our international, face-recognizing over... Aw, wait a minute! No, that's creepy.
Obligatory John Woo... by TiggertheMad · 2008-10-20 06:12 · Score: 4, Interesting

...I want to take his FACE OFF...

No more drugs for this man!

So, jesting aside, how will this work with cosmetic surgery? Will celebrities getting cosmetic work abroad no longer be identified correctly? Will actual terrorists suddenly become interested in elective procedures just to fool the system? How will the system deal with the fact that people change as they age? Interesting questions.

I wonder if this will become a legitimate tool for law enforcement, or if it will be yet another big brother tool.

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Ironic by Jah-Wren+Ryel · 2008-10-20 06:12 · Score: 4, Interesting

Seems ironic to me that we have the international law-enforcement agencies as well as a ton of cross-border data and system sharing agreements all intended to stop people from crossing the borders themselves. They want information about us to be world wide but they don't want us to be world wide.

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When information is power, privacy is freedom.
Re:Alternate Applications by larry+bagina · 2008-10-20 06:19 · Score: 4, Funny

It's facial recognition software.

--
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
Re:Not quite Big Brother by betterunixthanunix · 2008-10-20 06:25 · Score: 4, Insightful
Possible outcomes:
1. "Well, we have not caught any terrorists yet, but we spent a lot on this system. Let's use it to catch people who don't clean up after their dogs."
2. "You have been identified as a terrorist by the system, so you will need to remain in custody until a human can verify that you are not a terrorist."
3. "This system works so well, we should use it domestically!"
4. "Here's a list of people known to be against the war and probably planning to attend a protest in Washington DC; they shouldn't be allowed to fly."
Surveillance is a slippery slope.
--
Palm trees and 8
Well, I'm screwed by interstellar_donkey · 2008-10-20 06:35 · Score: 4, Interesting

The Federal government has my photo from my passport stored somewhere.
It has my DNA from my stint in the Army.
It has has my fingerprints from security clearance applications and several FBI background checks I've had to go through to be a teacher.
My only solace is, in all of my photos for federal documents I'm frowning like an NFL star posing for a picture, and on all my Facebook pictures I'm smiling.
Though when it comes down to it, if the government goes to crap, I'm screwed.

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The Internet is generally stupid
1984 by andy1307 · 2008-10-20 06:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Dear Brits: 1984 was a novel, not an instruction manual.
Re:Terrorist face recognition! by gnick · 2008-10-20 06:58 · Score: 4, Funny

Solution? Demand that all terrorists wear traditional middle eastern clothing. Even the abortion-clinic and McVeigh types.
It's not fool-proof, I admit -A lot of non-terrorists also wear traditional middle eastern clothing, and some may cry "profiling", but it's a good first step. Then, at security, the screeners can ask anyone in the right mode of dress, "Are you a terrorist?" The ones that say "Yes" are then arrested.
And then I can finally make it through line without taking off my shoes. Flawless.

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