Facial recognition pioneer worried his technology ‘robs everyone of anonymity’

[phantom power]

Joseph Atick, one of the pioneers of facial recognition software, told the New York Times that he was increasingly concerned that his technology is “basically robbing everyone of their anonymity.”

In a profile of him by Natasha Singer, Dr. Atick said that he was worried, in the wake of the Edward Snowden revealations, that governments could acquire access to biometric databases that would allow them to identify and track citizens in a way that would inhibit how they behave outside of their homes.

He noted that he is less concerned with government agencies that use facial recognition for specific and transparent purposes, and gave the example of the Department of Motor Vehicles using biometric data to prevent duplicate or fraudulent licenses from being produced.

What worries Dr. Atick are new applications like NameTag, which is bundled with Google Glass and allows wearers to identify strangers simply by looking at them. With a glance, anyone could access the name, occupation, and information shared publicly on Facebook. “We are basically allowing our fellow citizens to surveil us,” Dr. Atick told the Times.

Unlike other unique identifiers — like fingerprints — facial recognition can be used at a distance and without the knowledge of the person being identified. There are currently no specific federal guidelines on the use or storage of biometric data, which has led Dr. Atick and others to push the industry to adopt, voluntarily, a code of conduct.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/18/facial-recognition-pioneer-worried-his-technology-robs-everyone-of-anonymity/

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Closing the barn door after the horses have left.

A bit late to start worrying AFTER you've enabled the security state.

[CrispyQ]

2. The age of privacy is past. --nt

[Leme]

3. This is why I am disappointed And..... deleted his thread

A Spain judge is trying to rein in google searches.. The current availability of false info is great.
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This facial technology will only add to it. People could be "shown" anytime they go anywhere...and searchable...just put a name to a facial recognition and upload it.
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Who is at the beach, at this store, at this rally. Just point this technology at their face. Upload it and it is known forever.

[PADemD]

4. What about twins?

There are always some differences (height, weight, etc.); but some twins are very difficult to tell apart, for example Julian and Joaquin Castro.

[Leme]

5. twins, right or wrong, wouldn't matter in this discussion ? Everyone could be mis identified

even more reason this new "id" could lead to havoc just on a personal level. Posts on the internet wrongly attributed pics.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. That wasn't obvious from the start?