http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7pEg-qp2jE
Uploaded by NewsyTech on Apr 12, 2011
(Image Source: CNN)
BY CHRISTINE SLUSSER
ANCHOR CHANCE SEALES
Google is in the midst of planning an app that would identify a person's face in a photo, then pull their personal information--like Facebook Flickr, or even a cell phone number.
CNN reports Google has had the technology to do this for years--but is still hesitant about privacy issues. It's not just some quote "start-up" company with nothing to lose... (Video: Google)
"Google also is concerned about the legal implications of facial recognition. Even during trials among its own employees, Google has taken steps to ensure testers have explicitly agreed on record to try out the service."
...and while users have to give Google permission before it can pull such info-- Digital Quest points out that once agreement is given... it could be dangerous.
"Imagine a guy takes a picture of a woman in a bar and then he knows her address just because somewhere on the Web there is an association of her address with her photo."
And while the latest buzz is on Google's most recent announcement--it seems it's already been done. As Seen on Phone--a website dedicated to mobile news-- says a demo-Android app called Viewdle, may have just beat Google to the punch.
"What you're seeing here is a concept of facial recognition working as the video is being played, so you see the boxes are face to text, the name is a face-recognition, then we take that name, hook it up to a social network and are able to pull down status updates as they're happening. As you see in the video, the idea is that our algorithms are fast enough to run 100% local to the device."
Other face recognition technologies are being implemented in China right now. NTDTV explains the device can recognize up to 1400 faces and costs around $720.
"This is made possible by a device called the "Hanvon Face ID" that was developed in China. The device uses infer-red technology to scan a 3D image of a person's face, these images are then stored on the device's internal chip, so it doesn't have to be connected to an external server."
So...is Google too worried about privacy issues--or is this technology scary? Tell us in our comments section.
Google Plans Facial Recognition App That Can Pull Up Personal Data When It Sees A Face (Updated)
Popular Science
March 31, 2011
It was only a matter of time, and that time is fast approaching: Google is incubating a mobile app that will use facial recognition technology to identify people and access their personal info via photos snapped with a digital camera or mobile device. Privacy advocates, prepare for war.
For its part, Google is trying to get in front of the privacy argument that is undoubtedly coming (Google is getting pretty good at this by now) by assuring users that they will have to opt into such a service by checking a box. And the search giant is working on added layers of security and privacy to ensure that only those who want to be photographically found will be.
The idea is that Google’s massive search resources could be used to trawl social networks, online photo sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa, and the like to associate an individual’s face with his or her online presence. This, of course, could also include contact info like email addresses and phone numbers. It would at the very least identify a person by name, with which any reasonably tech-savvy person could track down contact information anyhow...[Full Article]
Facebook Launches Facial Recognition Tagging
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kHGsKnf3_I
Uploaded by NewsyVideos on Dec 18, 2010
Transcript by (http://www.newsy.com)
You're watching multisource technology video news analysis from Newsy.
BY ZHENG HWUANG CHIA
Tired of tagging the gazillion pictures from the weekend? Mark Zuckerberg feels you. ABC explains Facebook's new brainchild -- Tag Suggestions.
"Facebook adds facial recognition software. The new technology will make it easier to identify friends on the photos you upload. It works by matching new photos to others that have already been tagged, and suggests people that you may want to tag. The feature will begin rolling out next week."
Mashable tells us more.
"Facebook fills in the 'Who is this?' box with its suggestion — all you have to do is click the 'Save Tags' button to accept."
If you're a little freaked out by this new feature, don't worry-- you're not alone. An anchor from HLN is with you.
"Some people are loving this, but if you find this a little bit creepy, like I do, you can opt out of it."
And the Facebook blog says -- opting out is simple.
"If for any reason you don't want your name to be suggested, you will be able to disable suggested tags in your Privacy Settings. Just click 'Customize Settings' and 'Suggest photos of me to friends.' Your name will no longer be suggested in photo tags, though friends can still tag you manually."
So, what makes Facebook think it knows your friends better than you do? Well, Urlesque says apparently it knows, but it ain't telling how.
"The feature only makes suggestions when the algorithms have 'high confidence' in their accuracy, but Facebook hasn't released what percentage of confidence is required to make a suggestion. How exactly are we measuring confidence here?"
Commenters on India's TechTree say they're so concerned about the new function they're considering calling it quits with Facebook.
Comment 2: "Calling this creepy is a massive understatement. ... This is going to result in huge lapses in privacy and security of Facebook users. The wise thing is to quit Facebook now and join a safer social networking platform."
Finally - a Facebook executive tells CNET the feature actually enhances privacy, despite all the concerns to the contrary.
Chris Cox: ... Every time a tag is created, it means that there was a photo of you on the Internet that you didn't know about. ... Once you know that, you can remove the tag [or] write to the person, and say, 'I'm not that psyched about this photo."
So what do you think about the new feature?
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