Facial recognition is here to stay. And we should all probably accept it

guest · Jan 29, 2019

San Francisco proposal would ban government facial recognition use in the city
Would become first city in the nation to ban the tech
January 29, 2019
https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/29/18202602/san-francisco-facial-recognition-ban-proposal

A San Francisco lawmaker is introducing legislation today that would make the city the first in the nation to ban the government use of facial recognition technology.

The Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance, set to be proposed by supervisor Aaron Peskin, would require departments in the city to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors before using or buying surveillance technology, a check that other cities have already implemented.
If approved, the ordinance would also create a blanket ban that stops those departments from purchasing or using facial recognition technology.

The proposal comes at a precarious time for facial recognition tech. Despite documented issues of error and bias, federal regulation of the technology has been elusive.
The legislation will be heard in committee next month, and it has gained support from civil rights groups, including the ACLU of Northern California.
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legislation (PDF): https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13723917/ORD__Acquisition_of_Surveillance_Technology.pdf

ronjor · Jan 31, 2019

Making face recognition less biased doesn’t make it less scary

by Karen Hao January 29, 2019
Three new studies propose ways to make algorithms better at identifying people in different demographic groups. But without regulation, that won’t curb the technology’s potential for abuse.
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guest · Jan 31, 2019

Romford Station, smile! You're in London cops' final facial recog 'trial'
Cams trained on entrance today and tomorrow – so tough luck if that's on your commute route
January 31, 2019
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/01/31/london_cops_facial_recognition_final_trial/

London cops' controversial public trial of facial recognition technology is coming to an end this week in Romford – and campaigners hope it will be the last time the force uses the kit.

Today and tomorrow mark the final time it will be used in the trial, with a van parked outside Romford Station in East London from 10am to 6pm – plenty of time to catch rush hour.
The Met has consistently said that the technology will be used "overtly", but at the previous rollout in December the cameras were fitted to unmarked green vans.

The group also noted that one of the two the public information notices is so positioned that anyone reading it would be caught on camera.
"One of Liberty's key concerns is that this is supposed to be a trial, but by the time you're informed that it's happening you're probably already on camera," said Liberty's advocacy and policy officer Hannah Couchman.
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guest · Feb 1, 2019

Man fined £90 for public order offences after dodging facial recognition
It's a novel way of raising funds in Brexit Britain
February 1, 2019
https://www.theinquirer.net/inquire...der-offences-after-dodging-facial-recognition

"He simply pulled up the top of his jumper over the bottom of his face, put his head down and walked past," explained Big Brother Watch director Silkie Carlo to The Independent.
"There was nothing suspicious about him at all … you have the right to avoid [the cameras], you have the right to cover your face. I think he was exercising his rights."

Carlo explained that this was enough to trigger suspicions, and the man was followed and eventually accosted by officers who "pulled him over to one side," and demanded to see his ID which he provided.

The Metropolitan Police had previously put out a statement saying that "anyone who declines to be scanned will not necessarily be viewed as suspicious." It looks like the word "necessarily" is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in that sentence
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mirimir · Feb 2, 2019

Well, "public order offence" is whatever they say that it is. Could be anything.

And if for no other reason, it's just a billing code for the officer's time. In a way, he did troll them, by hiding his face.

ronjor · Feb 4, 2019

Amazon: Facial recognition bias claims are 'misleading'

By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News
Amazon has defended its facial-recognition tool, Rekognition, against claims of racial and gender bias, following a study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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guest · Feb 6, 2019

mood said: ↑

Romford Station, smile! You're in London cops' final facial recog 'trial'
Cams trained on entrance today and tomorrow – so tough luck if that's on your commute route
January 31, 2019
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/01/31/london_cops_facial_recognition_final_trial/
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London's Met police confess: We made just one successful collar in latest facial recog trial
February 6, 2019
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/...sful_arrest_during_latest_facial_recog_trial/

And it seems unlikely that last week's deployment has shifted that rate very much, with it leading to just three arrests, of which only one resulted in the person being charged.
Despite the fact only one of the three was charged, the Met's Ivan Balhatchet said in a statement that the "use of the equipment at Romford Town Centre resulted in several arrests for violent offences".

A press release also set out five other arrests that took place during the deployment, but a Met spokesperson confirmed that these were not a direct result of AFR, but "proactive arrests as part of the wider operation".
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guest · Feb 6, 2019

Amazon Recorded Video Of A Seller's Face For Identification Purposes
“We will record a 5-second video of your face. ... To proceed, enable access to your webcam.”
February 6, 2019
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/articl...acial-identification-with-a-seller-and-people

An Amazon seller based in Vietnam told BuzzFeed News that he was prompted to take a five-second video of his face using his computer’s webcam in January as he signed up for a seller profile.
The seller, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from Amazon, told BuzzFeed News he was not given an option to decline to submit a video of his face during the signup process.

Reached for comment by BuzzFeed News, Amazon disputed neither the authenticity of the facial verification process it required of the seller, nor the screenshot.
The company, however, refused to explain its collection of sellers’ faces.
Amazon declined to explain why or when it began asking some sellers for video proof of identity, in what regions it requests that proof, and what it does with the videos it records.

The ACLU’s Cagle said “it would not be a surprise if Amazon was using facial recognition” to verify sellers.
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ronjor · Feb 7, 2019

Amazon weighs in on potential ‘legislative framework’ for facial recognition

Kyle Wiggers@Kyle_L_Wiggers February 7, 2019
Amazon supports the creation of a “legislative framework” covering facial recognition technology. That’s according to Michael Punke, vice president of global public policy at Amazon’s AWS division, who penned a blog post this week outlining proposed guidelines for the “responsible use” of face-classifying software by private, commercial, and government entities.
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guest · Feb 7, 2019

Victorian government pushes back on in-classroom surveillance
February 7, 2019
https://www.zdnet.com/article/victorian-government-pushes-back-on-in-classroom-surveillance/

The Australian government in August last year kicked off a trial that saw surveillance cameras placed in classrooms to monitor if students were in attendance.

The initiative would involve the placement of cameras within classrooms that scan the faces of students and then compare the images against photos kept on file. Any instances of missing students would then be reported.
However, Victorian Education Minister James Merlino has moved to block the initiative from being rolled out, calling it "Big Brother-like".

With concerns over the privacy of students and the level of consent kids are capable of providing, Victoria's Information Commissioner Sven Bleummel told ABC RN Drive that he personally wouldn't let his child participate.
"Unlike a password, you can't reset your facial geometry," he added.
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guest · Feb 8, 2019

NEC recognition tech can spot people even when their faces are obscured
February 8, 2019
https://newatlas.com/nec-partial-facial-recognition-tech/58398/

You might think you're safe from being spotted by a camera if your face is covered or turned away, but the latest developments in AI-powered recognition tech are coming for you. NEC has announced a system that can identify people who are partially obscured, or even facing the other way.

Using a combination of deep learning techniques and analysis of body shape and clothes, the developers behind the system say they've hit accuracy rates of up to 90 percent during testing. It's officially called Person Re-identification Technology.
This use of whole body recognition rather than just the face could be used by security cameras in areas covering crowds, or where there are a lot of visual obstructions.

The system still requires a source image – a picture of the person to look for – but it can then effectively use what glimpses of a person might be visible to find a match. It works from numerous angles with multiple cameras, and even from behind.
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NEC: NEC technology recognizes people based on partial images

guest · Feb 13, 2019

mood said: ↑

Welcome to the airport of the future, where your face is your passport
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Second Aussie airport gets new contactless arrivals smartgates
February 12, 2019
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/second-aussie-airport-gets-new-contactless-arrivals-smartgates-518663

Perth Airport has become Australia’s second international airport to begin using new facial biometrics ready smartgates that will eventually allow travellers to pass through without producing a passport.

The new solution will use biometrics to match individuals against facial images stored in airlines’ advanced passenger processing systems, removing the need for travellers to present their passports at the gate to clear immigration.
The department plans to have deployed the new arrivals smartgates to all international airports by the end of June 2020, with Brisbane Airport the next to have them deployed.

A biometric data capture exercise using the new arrival smartgates has also previously occurred at Sydney International Airport.
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guest · Feb 15, 2019

CaixaBank customers can use their faces to withdraw money at ATMs
February 15, 2019
https://www.computerweekly.com/news...can-use-their-faces-to-withdraw-money-at-ATMs

Spanish bank CaixaBank has installed ATMs that use facial recognition to authenticate customers, enabling them to withdraw money without needing a card or PIN.

The technology was developed with Fujitsu and face recognition developer FacePhi. The ATM can validate up to 16,000 points on the image of the user’s face, but customers will still be able to use a card and PIN if they prefer.

The bank conducted a survey of customers before deciding to roll out the technology and found that 70% of respondents would be ready to use it as an alternative to entering their personal identification code on a keyboard.
A sense of security was seen as an advantage of face recognition for 66% of those surveyed. Convenience were seen as important for 19% and speed for 15% of the respondents.
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guest · Feb 15, 2019

mood said: ↑

Were Taylor Swift fans tracked at her gig?
A major stadium in Los Angeles has confirmed that it uses facial recognition [...] to spot known troublemakers.
December 14, 2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46567125
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The Mystery of That Taylor Swift Face Recognition Kiosk Has Been Solved
February 15, 2019
https://gizmodo.com/the-mystery-of-that-taylor-swift-face-recognition-kiosk-1832653921

ISM Connect, an event marketing and security company specializing in “smart engagement technology,” confirmed to Gizmodo on Friday that it supplied the kiosk at Swift’s Rose Bowl concert.

Brian Becker, head of marketing at ISM Connect, told Gizmodo in an email on Friday that Swift’s tour used the company’s tech. When asked if ISM Connect had supplied its kiosk to Swift’s Rose Bowl show, Becker responded: “Yes, Taylor Swift’s tour used ISM Connect technology to improve the fan experience and the safety and security of the event.”

Becker also detailed how the surveillance system, called FanGuard, worked:

“We positioned large screens at each of the entrance points in the venues that hosted Taylor’s tour. [...] Each screen also included smart cameras designed to identify only those individuals who present a security risk based on pre-existing information. [...]
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While the company doesn’t explicitly state that the kiosks at the Swift concert doubled as surveillance systems, it did publish a blog post about two weeks after the Rolling Stone story (and the subsequent flood of media coverage) titled “Breaking down misconceptions around visual matching within our venue technology.”
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guest · Feb 24, 2019

Are you being scanned? How facial recognition technology follows you, even as you shop
As digital billboards record customers’ reactions to advertisements tailored to them, just who is safeguarding Australians’ privacy?
February 24, 2019
https://www.theguardian.com/technol...ition-technology-follows-you-even-as-you-shop

If you shop at Westfield, you’ve probably been scanned and recorded by dozens of hidden cameras built into the centres’ digital advertising billboards.

The semi-camouflaged cameras can determine not only your age and gender but your mood, cueing up tailored advertisements within seconds, thanks to facial detection technology.
Westfield’s Smartscreen network was developed by the French software firm Quividi back in 2015. Their discreet cameras capture blurry images of shoppers and apply statistical analysis to identify audience demographics.

Mood is a particularly valuable insight for advertisers, revealing shoppers’ general sentiment towards a brand and how they feel in particular stores at certain times of the day.
“You’re not identifying who that person is, you’re just identifying the characteristics of that person. [...]"
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guest · Mar 7, 2019

UK gov plots biometric tech rollout for prisons following 'successful' trial
But 'shock' move hasn't gone down well with privacy groups
March 7, 2019
https://www.theinquirer.net/inquire...ollout-for-prisons-following-successful-trial

According to the Ministry of Justice, iris scanning, facial recognition and identity document verification software from Tascent, FaceWatch and IDScan was tested at three prisons in December and January: HMP Lindholme, HMP Humber and HMP Hull.

While the MoJ is pleased with its efforts, news of the trial hasn't gone down well with privacy campaign groups. Guy Ferris, legal and policy officer at Big Brother Watch, described the move as a "shock".
"The use of facial recognition in prisons comes as a total shock to everyone, including the Commissioners who have been tasked to oversee this new surveillance technology," he remarked.

"Government seeking public approval for facial recognition cameras in low-rights environments such as prisons is a staggering move, since we know it's also trying to introduce them as a general public surveillance tool.
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guest · Mar 11, 2019

The US Government Will Be Scanning Your Face At 20 Top Airports, Documents Show
March 11, 2019
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/articl...ents-reveal-the-governments-detailed-plan-for

These same documents state — explicitly — that there were no limits on how partnering airlines can use this facial recognition data. CBP did not answer specific questions about whether there are any guidelines for how other technology companies involved in processing the data can potentially also use it.

“I think it’s important to note what the use of facial recognition [in airports] means for American citizens,” Jeramie Scott, director of EPIC’s Domestic Surveillance Project, told BuzzFeed News in an interview. “It means the government, without consulting the public, a requirement by Congress, or consent from any individual, is using facial recognition to create a digital ID of millions of Americans.”

“Facial recognition is becoming normalized as an infrastructure for checkpoint control,” said Jay Stanley, an American Civil Liberties Union senior policy analyst and a participant at meetings that CBP has organized with privacy advocates.
In the US, there are no laws governing the use of facial recognition.
Yet government agencies are working quickly to roll it out in every major airport in the country.
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ronjor · Mar 12, 2019

Facial recognition’s ‘dirty little secret’: Millions of online photos scraped without consent

NBC NEWS Olivia Solon 12 Mar 2019
Facial recognition technology requires hundreds of thousands of images to “learn” how to differentiate facial features.
NBC News obtained an IBM data set used to “train” the technology to learn faces. The set included millions of photos scraped by photo-hosting site Flickr, many without the consent of the subjects.
Legal experts and civil rights advocates claim using photos without consent especially endangers minorities, who could be profiled and targeted, since the technology could eventually be used for surveillance purposes.
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ronjor · Mar 12, 2019

These Senators Want Homeland Security To "Pause" Its Facial Recognition Program At Airports

Davey Alba BuzzFeed News Reporter Posted on March 12, 2019
"American travelers [should] fully understand exactly who has access to their facial recognition data, how long their data will be held, how their information will be safeguarded, and how they can opt out of the program altogether.”
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guest · Mar 13, 2019

A Chinese subway is experimenting with facial recognition to pay for fares
Fare would be automatically deducted from a linked payment method
March 13, 2019
https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/13/18263923/chinese-subway-facial-recognition-fares-pay-ai

Scanning your face on a screen to get into the subway might not be that far off in the future. In China’s tech capital, Shenzhen, a local subway operator is testing facial recognition subway access, powered by a 5G network, as spotted by the South China Morning Post.

The trial is limited to a single station thus far, and it’s not immediately clear how this will work for twins or lookalikes. People entering the station can scan their faces on the screen where they would normally have tapped their phones or subway cards.
They will need to have registered their facial data beforehand and linked a payment method to their subway account.

Using facial recognition for payments isn’t new, although using it on subways is. At KFC stores across China, people can scan their face to buy fried chicken, which has been around since 2017.
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ronjor · Mar 15, 2019

Senators unveil facial recognition bill to stop firms from tracking you

by Alfred Ng March 14, 2019
If passed, this would be the first federal law protecting your privacy from businesses that use facial recognition.
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guest · Mar 18, 2019

Facial recognition overkill: How deputies cracked a $12 shoplifting case
Authorities call facial recognition a valuable tool. Civil liberties groups say it's dangerous
March 18, 2019
https://www.cnet.com/news/facial-recognition-overkill-how-deputies-cracked-a-12-shoplifting-case/

On a Saturday afternoon in late November 2017, a woman walked into a Wilco Farm store in Oregon, stuffed a $130 pair of Georgia Boots in her purse and walked out.
About 24 hours later, she turned herself in to the Washington County jail.

The speedy investigation was made possible by Amazon's Rekognition [...]
A WCSO deputy watched a surveillance recording of the woman pilfering the boots, grabbed pictures of her face from the footage and imported them into the sheriff's office's new tool. He quickly got back a digital lineup of mugshots and found a possible match.

Via public records requests, CNET reviewed seven sheriff's office reports that showed facial recognition being put to use in making an arrest. According to those reports, Rekognition played a role in five cases in identifying suspects who refused to give their names when approached by deputies.
In two other reports, facial recognition helped solve shoplifting cases: one for the pair of $130 boots and another for that $12 gas tank.
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There are also fears of Big Brother-style mass surveillance of the public, which is why civil liberties groups are working to stop police from using the technology.
This clash of community safety versus personal privacy has quickly turned facial recognition into a controversial issue.
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guest · Mar 25, 2019

China’s airport facial recognition kiosks should make us fear for our privacy
March 25, 2019
https://www.fastcompany.com/9032451...on-kiosks-should-make-us-fear-for-our-privacy

Matthew Brennan, an expert on Chinese technology, recently posted a short video clip of the new facial recognition kiosks airlines have installed in some airports in China.
From first glance, the kiosk does seem really cool—its basically Face ID on steroids. But it should also serve as a warning as to what governments and companies can do with our data if left unchecked.

The question is, as many commenters pointed out after Brennan’s tweet, do we want this kind of technology available in Western democracies? If so, how could it be kept in check and not abused by governments and other institutions? That’s something we don’t have an answer for yet–an answer we desperately need.
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guest · Apr 8, 2019

New York fails in its first attempt at face recognition for drivers
April 8, 2019
https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/07/nyc-facial-recognition-experiment-failure/

New York's bid to identify road-going terrorists with facial recognition isn't going very smoothly so far. The Wall Street Journal has obtained a Metropolitan Transportation Authority email showing that a 2018 technology test on New York City's Robert F. Kennedy Bridge not only failed, but failed spectacularly -- it couldn't detect a single face "within acceptable parameters."

The problem may be inherent to the early state of facial recognition at these speeds. Oak Ridge National Laboratory achieved more than 80 percent accuracy in a study that spotted faces through windshields, but that was at low speed. It might not be ready for someone barrelling down a bridge.
Not that privacy advocates will necessarily mind. Facial recognition is already a contentious issue, let alone when it's being used to peep into cars.
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guest · Apr 16, 2019

mood said: ↑

San Francisco proposal would ban government facial recognition use in the city
Would become first city in the nation to ban the tech
January 29, 2019
https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/29/18202602/san-francisco-facial-recognition-ban-proposal
legislation (PDF): https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13723917/ORD__Acquisition_of_Surveillance_Technology.pdf
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San Francisco inches closer to banning facial recognition
April 15, 2019
https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/15/san-francisco-inches-closer-to-banning-facial-recognition/

San Francisco took a step closer to becoming the first city in the country to ban facial recognition software use with the passage of some amendments to the Stop Secret Surveillance ordinance today.
The ordinance will face additional public comment before the County Board of Supervisors votes on it, said Supervisor and Rules Committee chair Aaron Peskin.

“The propensity for facial recognition technology to endanger civil rights and civil liberties substantially outweighs its purported benefits, and the technology will exacerbate racial injustice and threaten our ability to live free of continuous government monitoring,” reads the ordinance as proposed by Peskin in January.
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