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EFF: Americans May Not Know It, But Many Are In a Face Recognition Database Now

Posted by samzenpus on from the smile-you're-in-the-database dept.

colinneagle writes "People are not going to, nor should they have to, start walking around outside with a bag over their head to avoid security cameras capturing images of them. Yet 'face recognition allows for covert, remote and mass capture and identification of images — and the photos that may end up in a database include not just a person's face but also how she is dressed and possibly whom she is with. This creates threats to free association and free expression not evident in other biometrics,' testified EFF Staff Attorney Jennifer Lynch. There are 32 states that use some form of facial recognition for DMV photos. Every day, Facebook happily slurps up and automatically scans with facial recognition software about 300 million photos that users upload to the social networking giant. 'Face recognition is here to stay, and, though many Americans may not realize it, they are already in a face recognition database,' Lynch said. In fact, when you stop to consider Facebook "at least 54% of the United States population already has a face print." Now it purchased Face.com which had 31 billion face images profiled."

5 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. 31 billion face images profiled? by jc42 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whaddaya wanna bet that there are no more than 15 billion distinct faces in that collection?

    --
    Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  2. Only as good as the data by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Funny

    I suppose then I have nothing to worry about, since my profile pics are usually cartoons, inanimate objects, and internet memes.

    TSA Agent: "Uhh, miss, you don't look anything like your photo." (holds up photo of pedobear)
    Me: (triple facepalm)

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  3. Only women? by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 2, Funny

    not just a person's face but also how she is dressed and possibly whom she is with.

    Funny, I didn't notice anything about the technology only working on females.

  4. Re:Minority Report by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Funny

    It kind of makes me sad that all the dystopian capabilities are being created, but are mainly being used for advertising instead of the hot-evil-cool dystopia we were promised.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  5. Re:Minority Report by ozmanjusri · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you want a picture of the future, imagine a Coke ad stamped on a human face — forever.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."