Activists Turn Facial Recognition Tools Against the Police

[JacksinPA]

Activists Turn Facial Recognition Tools Against the Police

“We’re now approaching the technological threshold where the little guys can do it to the big guys,” one researcher said.

www.nytimes.com

“We’re now approaching the technological threshold where the little guys can do it to the big guys,” one researcher said.

In early September, the City Council in Portland, Ore., met virtually to consider sweeping legislation outlawing the use of facial recognition technology. The bills would not only bar the police from using it to unmask protesters and individuals captured in surveillance imagery; they would also prevent companies and a variety of other organizations from using the software to identify an unknown person.

During the time for public comments, a local man, Christopher Howell, said he had concerns about a blanket ban. He gave a surprising reason.

“I am involved with developing facial recognition to in fact use on Portland police officers, since they are not identifying themselves to the public,” Mr. Howell said. Over the summer, with the city seized by demonstrations against police violence, leaders of the department had told uniformed officers that they could tape over their name. Mr. Howell wanted to know: Would his use of facial recognition technology become illegal?

Portland’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, told Mr. Howell that his project was “a little creepy,” but a lawyer for the city clarified that the bills would not apply to individuals. The Council then passed the legislation in a unanimous vote.
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Facial recognition technology is right out of Orwell's 1984.

 

[Chomsky]

Activists Turn Facial Recognition Tools Against the Police

“We’re now approaching the technological threshold where the little guys can do it to the big guys,” one researcher said.

www.nytimes.com

“We’re now approaching the technological threshold where the little guys can do it to the big guys,” one researcher said.

In early September, the City Council in Portland, Ore., met virtually to consider sweeping legislation outlawing the use of facial recognition technology. The bills would not only bar the police from using it to unmask protesters and individuals captured in surveillance imagery; they would also prevent companies and a variety of other organizations from using the software to identify an unknown person.

During the time for public comments, a local man, Christopher Howell, said he had concerns about a blanket ban. He gave a surprising reason.

“I am involved with developing facial recognition to in fact use on Portland police officers, since they are not identifying themselves to the public,” Mr. Howell said. Over the summer, with the city seized by demonstrations against police violence, leaders of the department had told uniformed officers that they could tape over their name. Mr. Howell wanted to know: Would his use of facial recognition technology become illegal?

Portland’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, told Mr. Howell that his project was “a little creepy,” but a lawyer for the city clarified that the bills would not apply to individuals. The Council then passed the legislation in a unanimous vote.
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Facial recognition technology is right out of Orwell's 1984.

They could 'tape over' their name? Why? They're public servants. We have the right to know who they are.

 

[JacksinPA]

They could 'tape over' their name? Why? They're public servants. We have the right to know who they are.

Maybe all the recent violence has made them paranoid.

 

[BlueTex]

Something for the militia boys to remember when planning their little civil war....

 

[JacksinPA]

Something for the militia boys to remember when planning their little civil war....

These clothes use outlandish designs to trick facial recognition software into thinking you're not human

These clothes use outlandish designs to trick facial recognition software into thinking you're not human

Privacy-focused designers, academics, and activists have designed wearable accessories and clothes meant to thwart facial recognition tech.

www.businessinsider.com

• Facial recognition technology is everywhere: More than half of Americans' faces are now logged in police databases.
• To push back against surveillance, designers have invented clothes and accessories that make your face undetectable. The accessories combine fashion and technology, and can trick algorithms meant to detect and identify faces.
• The designs have been used by protesters aiming to avoid police surveillance in places like Hong Kong and the US, but they aren't fail-proof — some new facial recognition algorithms are being developed to see past the visual tricks.
• ============================================================
• There are many optical techniques that can be used to defeat FR technology, from odd-shaped sunglasses to peel-off scars.

 

[BlueTex]

These clothes use outlandish designs to trick facial recognition software into thinking you're not human

These clothes use outlandish designs to trick facial recognition software into thinking you're not human

Privacy-focused designers, academics, and activists have designed wearable accessories and clothes meant to thwart facial recognition tech.

www.businessinsider.com

• Facial recognition technology is everywhere: More than half of Americans' faces are now logged in police databases.
• To push back against surveillance, designers have invented clothes and accessories that make your face undetectable. The accessories combine fashion and technology, and can trick algorithms meant to detect and identify faces.
• The designs have been used by protesters aiming to avoid police surveillance in places like Hong Kong and the US, but they aren't fail-proof — some new facial recognition algorithms are being developed to see past the visual tricks.
• ============================================================
• There are many optical techniques that can be used to defeat FR technology, from odd-shaped sunglasses to peel-off scars.

I think the militia boys would cute like this... lol