In today’s spotlight I would like to draw your attention to the age of disappearing privacy. I recently addressed the new emojis Facebook is using to measure emotional reactions, all as an admitted expansion of their data mining efforts. If you missed this show, check out my blog at eldontaylor.com for details. Today I would like to discuss another aspect of what is referred to commonly as the arrival of the Orwellian age, and that is the eyes that are on you everywhere.
Facial Recognition
We marvel at technology today but it is often akin to the proverbial surgeon’s scalpel in that there resides within it the potential for great good and unimaginable harm. Take for example facial recognition software. Most of us might enjoy how our smart phones can sort through our photographs and organize them by people, but did you know this same technology could be used to find you? Imagine this scenario, someone takes a picture of you. Maybe you’re shopping, driving or in a bar. Maybe you just accidentally cut someone off in traffic and they’re raging mad about it, or you’re an attractive woman going about your own business or just sitting in your car at a stop light, and our imaginary perpetrator snaps your picture, say on his smart phone. Later he accesses his Recognizr software, software created by the Swedish firm, The Astonishing Tribe. 1
Using this software he is able to search the Internet for you and in seconds he pulls up your Facebook page, or any other social networking site, and now he has discovered your name, where you live, your likes and so forth. The stalker can learn much more about you by reading your posts and looking at your friends and family. And if you have privacy settings to protect you that does not mean that all of your contacts are using it too. Everywhere your picture might appear, the software has recognized you and the information is now his. How do you feel about this?
Tracking
Now just so you know, this software actually exists so there’s nothing imaginary about the ability to do just exactly what I have described in this scenario. There is another publicly available software program called Photo Finder that does the same thing and more. Indeed, using facial recognition software to scan for criminals at the 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida, led authorities to netting nineteen people. 2
There is a television series called “Person of Interest.” In this popular series an intelligent computer, actually two competing computers, track everyone. This is not all that far-fetched. There are already software installations capable of locating and tracking you within camera networks—Britain has one such system. (Ibid)
Privacy?
There are cases where cameras have been installed in school restrooms and even where students have unknowingly taken laptops home that provided school personnel with the ability to monitor their activities remotely. (Ibid)
So the day of personal privacy may be coming quickly to a close, but only if we enable it. Remember that the next time you’re sharing your personal information with anyone. Knowledge is power, that’s why I wrote “Gotcha: The Subordination of Free Will.” Use your power wisely.
As always, thanks for the read and I appreciate your feedback.
Eldon Taylor
Provocative Enlightenment
NY Time Bestselling Author of Choices and Illusions
www.eldontaylor.com
Resources:
1 Recognizr can identify you by your photo alone
2 Dice, Mark. Big Brother: The Orwellian Nightmare Come True. The Resistance, 2011 Kindle Edition