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Face Recognition — Clever Or Just Plain Creepy?

Posted by Soulskill on from the can't-it-be-both dept.

Simson writes "Beth Rosenberg and I published a fun story today about our experiences with the new face recognition that's built into both iPhoto '09 and Google's new Picasa system. The skinny: iPhoto is fun, Google is creepy. The real difference, we think, is that iPhoto runs on your system and has you name people with your 'friendly' names. Picasa, on the other hand, runs on Google's servers and has you identify everybody with their email addresses. Of course, email addresses are unique and can be cross-correlated between different users. And then, even more disturbing, after you've tagged all your friends and family, Google tries to get you to tag all of the strangers in your photos. Ick."

16 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Re:First intelligent post. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    When Google finally knows everything there is to know about each of us, the government will be able to save the money it would have had to spend on ID cards. Google can issue them for free, relying on advertiser income from selling the info. Savings! Lower taxes!

  2. Re:First intelligent post. by dov_0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If they get together with Amazon, we can have little iDentikindle cards with tasteful text ads beside our photos. Maybe the content could be matched with our profession or stage of life...

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  3. Re:First intelligent post. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...And our medical records can be indexed online! Talk about convenience!

  4. What about video facial recognition? by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 4, Funny

    I want to know when I'll be able to run my porn through a facial recognition program and sort by actress. That is, uh, a friend of mine wants to know when...

    1. Re:What about video facial recognition? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why stop at facial recognition?

    2. Re:What about video facial recognition? by jlp2097 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Where's the "-1, Disturbing" mod, when you need it?

  5. Re:So Google... by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 3, Funny

    What exactly did everyone think "Don't be Evil" would mean once the company went public, grew up and grew larger?

    A better public relations strategy than Microsoft?

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    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  6. Re:Tinfoil hats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The release plan shows that this feature will be available in version 1.9.84

  7. Re:Tinfoil hats by Dupple · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't worry, even version 1.9.84 will be Beta

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    Watch those corners
  8. Re:First intelligent post. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We see you HIV/AIDS may we suggest 4chan.org?

  9. Terrible Parents... by Enki+X · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did Anyone else notice that the photo in TFA is credited to Simon Garfinkel? Poor bastard.

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    On second thought, let's not go to the internet. 'Tis a silly place.
  10. You need to get yourself som black-bar sunglasses. by mccdyl001 · · Score: 3, Funny

    With the advent of automatic facial recognition technology, you need to get yourself some black bars, and you need to wear them anytime you're out in public. Then any photos of you will come out pre-censored, no more worries about automatic facial recognition!

  11. Re:Tinfoil hats by Mozk · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, by then there will be no need for numbering versions because there will only be the current version. There will be no older versions.

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    No existe.
  12. Re:Tinfoil hats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It makes finding John Connor much easier.

  13. Re:Tinfoil hats by beelsebob · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who'da thunk it, we could have a phone book in the 21st century!

  14. Re:Tinfoil hats by binarybum · · Score: 1, Funny

    sigh. It's tore up dummy.

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    ôó