When facial identification makes an error – Security updates by Tony Anscombe

Video
A lady in London has been mistakenly labeled as a suspected shoplifter by a facial recognition system with recent worries about the precision and dependability of the technology

Video

A lady in London has been mistakenly labeled as a suspected shoplifter by a facial recognition system with recent worries about the precision and dependability of the technology

31 May 2024

A female from London has been falsely accused of theft after being flagged by a facial-recognition system, as per the report by BBC. The technology, known as Facewatch, is utilized by various retailers throughout the United Kingdom, including the Home Bargains outlet where the woman was misidentified.

Challenges related to privacy, legality, and other risks have surrounded facial recognition technology for a long time. This has lead to cities like San Francisco, Boston, Portland, and other U.S. cities eventually prohibiting the utilization of facial recognition software by law enforcement and local bodies. While there are some cities reconsidering their stance due to a rise in crime rates, many issues still persist, including how to handle and prevent errors like false identifications.

For a deeper insight into this contentious topic, watch Tony’s video.

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About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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