Video and data surveillance by public and private entities.
Civil Surveillance (40)
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- 7 min
- New York Times
- 2018
This article details the research of Joy Buolamwini on racial bias coded into algorithms, specifically facial recognition programs. When auditing facial recognition software from several large companies such as IBM and Face++, she found that they are far worse at properly identifying darker skinned faces. Overall, this reveals that facial analysis and recognition programs are in need of exterior systems of accountability.
- New York Times
- 2018
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- 7 min
- New York Times
- 2018
Facial Recognition Is Accurate, if You’re a White Guy
This article details the research of Joy Buolamwini on racial bias coded into algorithms, specifically facial recognition programs. When auditing facial recognition software from several large companies such as IBM and Face++, she found that they are far worse at properly identifying darker skinned faces. Overall, this reveals that facial analysis and recognition programs are in need of exterior systems of accountability.
Discussion Prompts:
What does exterior accountability for facial recognition software look like, and what should it look like? How and why does racial bias get coded into technology, whether explicitly or implicitly?
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- 3 min
- MacRumors
- 2021
Facebook’s collaboration with Ray-Ban on a new technology of “smart glasses” comes with a host of questions on whether or not capabilities such as facial recognition should be built into the technology.
- MacRumors
- 2021
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- 3 min
- MacRumors
- 2021
Facebook Weighing Up Legality of Facial Recognition in Upcoming Smart Glasses
Facebook’s collaboration with Ray-Ban on a new technology of “smart glasses” comes with a host of questions on whether or not capabilities such as facial recognition should be built into the technology.
Discussion Prompts:
What are the “so clear” benefits and risks of having facial recognition algorithms implanted into smart glasses, in your view? What are the problems with “transparent technology” such as smart glasses, where other citizens may not even know that they are being surveilled?
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- 3 min
- CNBC
- 2013
Facial recognition software, or using computer vision and biometric technology on an image of a person to identify them, has potential applications in law enforcement to help catch suspects or criminals. However, aspects of probability are at play, especially as the photos or videos captured become blurrier and need an additional layer of software analysis to be “de-pixelized.” Also, identification depends on the databases to which the FBI has access.
- CNBC
- 2013
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- 3 min
- CNBC
- 2013
How Facial Recognition Technology Could Help Catch Criminals
Facial recognition software, or using computer vision and biometric technology on an image of a person to identify them, has potential applications in law enforcement to help catch suspects or criminals. However, aspects of probability are at play, especially as the photos or videos captured become blurrier and need an additional layer of software analysis to be “de-pixelized.” Also, identification depends on the databases to which the FBI has access.
Discussion Prompts:
How should law enforcement balance training these facial recognition programs with good amounts of quality data and avoiding breaching privacy by accessing more databases with citizen faces? Where can human bias enter into the human-computer systems described in the article? Should there be any margin of error or aspect of probability in technologies that work in volatile areas like law enforcement?
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- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2021
Customs and Border protection used facial recognition technology to scan travelers entering the U.S at several points of entry in 2020, and did not identify any impostors or impersonators. This is part of a larger program of using biometrics to screen those who enter the country, which raises concerns about data privacy, who may have access to this data, and how it may be used.
- Gizmodo
- 2021
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- 5 min
- Gizmodo
- 2021
CBP Facial Recognition Scanners Failed to Find a Single Imposter At Airports in 2020
Customs and Border protection used facial recognition technology to scan travelers entering the U.S at several points of entry in 2020, and did not identify any impostors or impersonators. This is part of a larger program of using biometrics to screen those who enter the country, which raises concerns about data privacy, who may have access to this data, and how it may be used.
Discussion Prompts:
What bad outcomes are possible from the government having extensive biometric data, including facial scans, on many people who try to enter the country? Why does the government get away with using biased technology to conduct facial scans at airports, for example? Are “facilitation improvements” worth aiming for if it means using technologies that are not 100% effective and will disproportionately harm certain populations?
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- 7 min
- Wired
- 2020
After student members of the University of Miami Employee Student Alliance held a protest on campus, the University of Miami Police Department likely used facial recognition technology in conjunction with video surveillance cameras to track down nine students from the protest and summon them to a meeting with the dean. This incident provided a gateway into the discussion of fairness of facial recognition programs, and how students believe that they should not be deployed on college campuses.
- Wired
- 2020
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- 7 min
- Wired
- 2020
Facial Recognition Applications on College Campuses
After student members of the University of Miami Employee Student Alliance held a protest on campus, the University of Miami Police Department likely used facial recognition technology in conjunction with video surveillance cameras to track down nine students from the protest and summon them to a meeting with the dean. This incident provided a gateway into the discussion of fairness of facial recognition programs, and how students believe that they should not be deployed on college campuses.
Discussion Prompts:
How can facial recognition algorithms interfere with the right of people to protest? When it comes to facial recognition databases, are larger photo repositories better or worse? Does facial recognition and video surveillance have a place on college campuses? How does facial recognition and video surveillance embolden people in power in general?
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- 5 min
- BBC
- 2021
The ability of facial recognition technology used by the South Wales Police force to identify an individual based on biometric data nearly instantly rather than the previous standard of 10 days allowed a mother to say goodbye to her son on his deathbed. It seems to have other positive impacts, such as identifying criminals earlier than they otherwise might have been. However, as is usually the case, concerns abound about how this facial recognition technology can violate human rights.
- BBC
- 2021
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- 5 min
- BBC
- 2021
Facial recognition technology meant mum saw dying son
The ability of facial recognition technology used by the South Wales Police force to identify an individual based on biometric data nearly instantly rather than the previous standard of 10 days allowed a mother to say goodbye to her son on his deathbed. It seems to have other positive impacts, such as identifying criminals earlier than they otherwise might have been. However, as is usually the case, concerns abound about how this facial recognition technology can violate human rights.
Discussion Prompts:
Who can be trusted with facial recognition algorithms that can give someone several possibilities for the identity of a particular face? Who can be trusted to decide in what cases this technology can be deployed? How can bias become problematic when a human is selecting one of many faces recommended by the algorithm? Should the idea of constant surveillance or omnipresent cameras make us feel safe or concerned?