Say hello (or goodbye) to Facebook facial recognition and tags
Facebook.com is officially rolling out a new feature that will recognize faces and automatically tag your friends. Is that cool or creepy?
We all knew this was coming. Facial recognition technology has become more accurate and powerful, and Facebook, which has become the go-to place to share photos with family and friends, includes a feature that lets members “tag” and identify other members. It was only a matter of time before someone managed to combine those technologies and create a system that would tag multiple photos based on facial recognition.
That someone is Facebook, which has announced a new feature named tag suggestions. With this new feature, Facebook members can upload an entire album and have Facebook automatically group photos containing the same face. So instead of uploading dozens of images from my nephew’s birthday party and tagging my brother and sister-in-law in each photo, Facebook hones in on my brother’s face and asks, “Who is this?” When I tag my brother’s name in that one photo, the tag is then applied to every photo that the facial recognition software can locate. I can then do the same for my sister and save myself a great deal of time – and typing.
Predictably, people are complaining about Facebook intruding on privacy. A security firm member claims that Facebook is “eroding the online privacy of its users,” but that’s a bit of a stretch. I’ve never been shy about criticizing Facebook for its privacy gaffes, but this is one case where the benefits far outweigh the “risks” of this new feature. Tag Suggestions makes tagging friends much easier and more efficient. It doesn’t violate anyone’s privacy because your friends were already going to tag you in those photos anyway. Critics are essentially complaining that Facebook decided to give users a shortcut.
Of course, the concept of facial recognition makes people nervous. Google even went as far to admit that its Goggles app could recognize faces, but the feature was disabled because of privacy concerns. If you share that sentiment and don’t want your face coming up in tag suggestions, follow these steps:
- Go to Facebook Privacy Settings
- Click “Customize Settings”
- Click the edit button next to “Suggest photos of me to friends”
- Click “Enabled” and change it to “Disabled”
Don’t you think it’s funny our government can’t even obtain this kind of information about it’s citizens without a court order, but facebook and other social networking site have been given the latitude? Why not, for the government it’ll be like going to the library and avoid dealing with the ACLU, Lawsuits, etc., Wait is this the facebook that has like buttons all over the web and can track your whereabouts? Not the same facebook that bowed to china, and doesn’t allow it’s chinese users to talk about politics and religion is it? OnlyMeWorld.com the new alternative to facebook. No Real Names, No Email!
Carlson: you are entirely incorrect when you state Facebook and other social networking sites have been “given” the latitude! We as Facebook users allow this intrusion into our lives and the Government cannot stop us from putting personal information on the net in the papers or yelling it on a street corner if we choose ! If you wish to maintain your privacy; don’t join social networking sites or at least use the limitations that are available to you.
Recently, I had this discussion with my 14 year old niece who was putting stuff on her Facebook site then was alarmed to find that her uncle and Dad both found out about.
Lack of common sense, unfortunately, is not against the law ! Just think about how big the jails would be if it was full of Politicians and Judges !!! Not LOL
sdisturber: you are correct that we all have a choice on what we choose to put on the web. My point though, is social networking sites shouldn’t be allowed to obtain so much information about it’s members, nor should they be able to track it’s users whereabouts throughout the web.
An example would be you open an account at Bank of America and give them the required information. That information you give them is for your bank account, and perhaps through surveys, etc., they can determine how to better service you, and offer better services & features, etc.,
But if that bank were able to track your everyday movements and where abouts(Which Facebook & Twitter is able to do with their like buttons -see Wall Street Journal Archives), take your photo with a facial recognition software and store it in their databases, etc., combine that with what little or all the information they have about you. Wouldn’t you be upset?
So regardless of how little, or how much information you provide doesn’t matter, they’re collecting information about you anyway. Most people just don’t know these sites are doing this.
You are right, we do have the rights, but we each should be allowed to determine what information we provide and what we don’t.
If you remember a while back, banks were selling our names to 3rd party advertisers, etc., After a public outcry and laws were passed protecting our privacy rights, banks now ask whether it’s okay to pass on or sell your information to third parties, affiliates, etc., This is not the case currently with social networking sites such as Facebook.
I’m sorry you misunderstood what I was saying, but there is a lot more to this privacy debate regarding social networking sites that most people are aware of today. I agree again with you, we all must use common sense about what we put on the web, but we should have the right to our privacy also.
It worries me what a company like facebook would be able to do with my photo, web browsing history, etc., Sell it to advertisers and the government? I walk into a store, the cameras say hey that’s carlson the idiot who is a sucker for chocolate chip cookies, fitness magazines he always buys but never works out, and loves to go to starbucks, etc., He’s 36, asian, etc., A computer then figures out @ XXX Luxury Department Store, okay he will probably buy this, be polite when you approach, and the percentage of him buying this is 78%.
That’s just department stores, what else? Think I sound like a New World Order Crazy? FYI Las Vegas already has facial recognition software, and databases with information that is 1/10th as advanced, that’s how they’re able to track people who come into the casino.
That’s only one example, imagine this kind of technology in your everyday lives. What’s the difference between China and United States in 5 to 10 years? United States is a democracy or communist?
I believe the United States is a Republic.
I quit facebook a year ago over privacy. But billions jumped on the Tusanami ride and rode with it. When will it crash? I doubt it will. People complain about their privacy being intruded on, but they do nothing to curb themselves of doing it.
If I were a criminal, I would rejoice this evolving privacy incursion. There’s lots of money to made. And ig I were a hitman or a bully, well I have all I need now.
People don’t see their privacy being invaded till it’s too late and the Tusanami runs them over.
Facebook better allow people to switch these features off on other people’s accounts that post pictures of them. Ah, who am I kidding, I can’t convince anyone to be smart on privacy these days.
I am not suprised. I am one of the few ‘Chromo-magma’ people who never embraced Facebook and never joined. Yes, their are a few like me. I admit, I kinda feel like ‘Jason Bourne’ – isolated. I was very concerned from the get go about Privacy – and something just didn’t seem right. Also I enjoy having multiple friendship groups – and what is ‘acceptable’ to some groups – is not too others. I figured it would cause alot of problems with friends. So I never joined.
I guess I have missed alot – but I think I also have conserved alot. I just think that one day their will be a security leak so big – it will be disasterous. IMO.
You are very insightful = )! Most people today don’t realize the seriousness of what would happen if there was a security leak, or their systems were hacked. What’s worse is with all this information that Facebook is being allowed to collect, what will be done with that information? I assure you, you haven’t missed out on anything at all! If you ever want to join a site that doesn’t ask for your real name, and email address, etc., Please join onlymeworld.com = )! We are the new alternative to Facebook.
In reference to this article. *Ahem*
1.Go to Facebook Privacy Settings
2.Click “Customize Settings”
3.Click the edit button next to “Suggest photos of me to friends”
4.Click “Enabled” and change it to “Disabled”
Voila!
Facebook may seem harmful, but their privacy options are exceptional. They go beyond to make the subscribers, and of course the law, happy, and safe.
You are 100 % Right! I wish more people would wake up!
Oh AttitudeEra, you are not alone. No one in our house has a facebook account. We don’t even “Twitter”.
On the other hand we don’t feel in the least bit isolated. We use Skype for relatives far away, and we do a monthly newsletter via e-mail, to keep everyone up to date.
Me personally, I just don’t understand this need to share so much with people you do not know personally. Most of what I hear seems to me to be an abundance of over-sharing.
Thankfully we live this mundane quiet life and so no one would want to friend us on a site like that anyway. My husband would be one of those who would get caught in some kind of scam, he thinks everyone always tells the truth.
I too see some kind of huge security problem looming in the future with sites like this. It’s just not worth the risk as far as we are concerned.
It’s bad enough that facebook allows people / businesses to use their application and member list to send spam, but now this? It would be good if they made their system a little more user friendly, like if you want to be on an e-mail list for everybody or if you want facial recognition, click this box, otherwise you won’t hear from anyone except your friends, without photos. I can understand that it would be security, etc. But it shouldn’t be that if you don’t want something, figure out how to get out of it!
I get it that Facebook is very “out-in-the-open” but guys…YOU GET TO CONTROL WHAT YOU PUT ON IT!!!! You’re the one who uploads the photos, you’re the one who accepts or DECLINES friend invitations, you’re the one who edits the photo album or information privacy setting, you’re the one updating your status, etc. If you don’t want people knowing where you are, then it’s as simple as NOT TYPING it on your status. If you don’t want people seeing your photos, DON’T UPLOAD them. Period. I’m tired of people complaining about how Facebook ruined their life because they decided it was a clever idea to complain about their boss on Facebook when their boss is their Friend, or because they put up an inapropriate photo and their parents/coworkers saw it. Now, if you’re “worried” that a friend is gonna tag you in a photo you don’t want anyone else seeing, then maybe your extracarricular activities is what’s questionable, not Facebook. And P.S. I know people who have caught their gfs/bfs cheating through Facebook. Call me crazy, but I think that’s actually a good thing.
Wonder how this will effect twins.
You know what. if you are worried about having your privacy violated then don’t use public sites for social networking. F**K are people stupid you take that chance when you sign up and post pictures don’t like don’t sign up. Pretty basic concept.
there is no disabled button…there is a enable button and when l click on that nothing happens to bring up a disabled button….hmmmmm
If you don’t like it, don’t use Facebook – simple. No one is forcing anyone to use the website. People get hyped up about the lame things. If you’re worried about your identity being stolen or any other such thing, then don’t use sites where everything is public. Duh.
Just another reason I’m happy that I gave up my FB
I don’t see a probelem with it. I wouldn’t consider it creepy in the least. As long as you cab still untag and or remove
I found that since I had joined Facebook, a whole bunch of people from South America that the insiders to Facebook care nOt to deal with had befriended me. I appreciate their sincerity yet ulterior motives of other groups made Facebook a spiritual warefare zone. That was not why I joined the site at all. I wante dto join and make friends on the internet.
I opted out of Facebook because of the nonsense I cared not to deal with.
Facebook cloned stooges seem to adopt a reverance for Facebook as though God Almighty himself has commanded people to view Facebook.
I am not deceived by the tactics of Facebook, its mind contro; tactcs , that Saudi gurus had employed on Westerners.
To me I could never allow the deceptions, hiden things of deceit to take my love of of God and Jesus Christ away.
Facebook is only one of the social networks that have succeeded at member numbers success.
Hilarious, is what it is going to be. This feature is going to mess up regularily. Just like the voice recognition utility which translates my cell phone vmail into text messages.
In response to just not using FB to protect your privacy, one issue is that I see many pictures that people post of others who are not on facebook. Although their names are not tagged or highlighted, their names are still added by the person who posted it for all to see. I have seen pics where other people have made negative comments and the person has no idea that they are even in a picture that has been put up there. It is a total privacy violation. Even those not willing have an account are not protected.
[...] announced that they were switching on facial recognition for photo uploads last summer. Post a new batch of photos and the updated tool suggests people from your contacts who [...]