Well it seems as though technology has taken yet another turn. We officially can run but not hide. Google recently signed a patent, Facial Recognition with social network aiding. If you are in any way affiliated with a social networking site; not just Facebook, a simple snap shot will reveal this information. Not only can you use a photo that was previously taken it can be a photo taken on the spot. This can be a photo of a landmark, or a group of people, this new software will provide as much information as possible of every single item, landmark or person in the photo.
Although this may seem like a very unique innovation, I personally feel that this is yet another way to have your privacy invaded. I know a large population in many countries participate in some form of social networking sites; however the difference to distinguish is option. People have the option to make their photos and information available to the public and also control how much they want people to know.
With this facial recognition people will be able to access all of the social sites you are involved in that you may not necessarily want everyone to know about. I believe this completely invades a person’s privacy and will make it somewhat uncomfortable to leave your home knowing you can be easily identified. Google is working out the details of privacy and is considering a few different options such as sending a request once a person has been identified, but I personally believe someone will find ways around this, and you can never be fully protected.
We are already deprived of privacy in other forms, and now people can take a picture without my knowledge and attain information about me that I may feel is personal. This is not something I feel very comfortable with, nor do I understand the relevancy of this. Although, I am guilty of being a part of the social networking society, I did not consider that this would open doors to other people having access to my private life. Then again this is 2011, what can you expect?
Ashley Farrell
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI think your concern over privacy is a valid concern that needs to be considered by both industry and civil society. I, for one, still haven't fully determined my point of view towards the technology.
I can imagine some very useful and innocent uses for the technology and some really horible and distructive uses for the technology. In the end, the technology itself is not inherently good or bad; it is how people choose to use it that determines if it is good or bad. If industry and civil society can flesh out some best practices that honor the consumer's privacy, I think society will benefit from the technology in the long-run.