Facial recognition: Facebook may use profile photos

Facebook is considering incorporating most of its 1 billion-plus members' profile photos into its growing facial recognitiondatabase, expanding the scope of the social network's controversial technology. 

The possible move, which Facebook revealed in an update to its data use policy, is intended to improve the performance of its "Tag Suggest" feature. The feature uses facial recognition technology to speed up the process of labeling or "tagging" friends and acquaintances who appear in photos posted on the network. 

The technology currently automatically identifies faces in newly uploaded photos by comparing them only to previous snapshots in which users were tagged. Facebook users can choose to remove tags identifying them in photos posted by others on the site. 

The changes would come at a time when Facebook and other Internet companies' privacy practices are under scrutiny, following the revelations of a U.S. government electronic surveillance program. 

Facebook, Google Inc and other companies have insisted that they have never participated in any program giving the government direct access to their computer servers and that they only provide information in response to specific requests, after careful review and as required by law. 

Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan said that adding members' public profile photos would give users better control over their personal information, by making it easier to identify posted photos in which they appear. 

"Our goal is to facilitate tagging so that people know when there are photos of them on our service," Egan said. 

She stressed that Facebook users uncomfortable with facial recognition technology will still be able to "opt out" of the Tag Suggest feature altogether, in which case the person's public profile photo would not be included in the facial recognition database. 

Facial recognition technology has been a sensitive issue for technology companies, raising concerns among some privacy advocates and government officials. Tag Suggest, which the company introduced in 2011, is not available in Europe due to concerns raised by regulators there.

Google's social network, Google+, also employs similar technology, but requires user consent. And it has banned third-party software makers from using facial recognition technology in apps designed for its Glass wearable computer. 

Egan said Facebook was not currently using facial recognition technology for any other features, but that could change. 

"Can I say that we will never use facial recognition technology for any other purposes? Absolutely not," Egan said. But, she noted, "if we decided to use it in different ways we will continue to provide people transparency about that and we will continue to provide control." 

Facebook also amended its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities on Thursday, adding and tweaking the language so that members under 18 years of age are deemed to have affirmed that a parent or legal guardian has agreed to allow marketers to use some of their personal information in ads. 

The language was the result of a recent court-approved legal settlement regarding its "sponsored stories" ads.

Google Glass not getting face-recognition feature

Google put out word that it won't add face-recognition features to Glass, in a bow to privacy fears raised about the camera-enabled internet-connected eyewear. 

"We won't add facial recognition features to our products without having strong privacy protections in place," Google said in an online message aimed at software developers creating applications for Glass. 

"With that in mind, we won't be approving any facial recognition Glassware at this time," the message continued, revealing how the company intends to refer to software designed for the devices. 

In May, a group of US lawmakers asked Google to answer questions on the privacy implications and possible "misuse of information" of its Glass project. 

Eight US lawmakers in the Congressional Privacy Caucus sent a letter saying they are "curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of the average American." 

The lawmakers asked Google to provide information about how it would collect and use data from the Internet-linked eyewear, which has been tested by a small group of users and is expected to hit the market later this year. 

Some small establishments in the United States have vowed to ban Glass due to worries about how being able to discreetly take pictures or video might be seen as invasive by patrons. 

Facebook and Twitter have already launched applications Google glasses. 

Several major news organizations have also tailored applications for Glass, which has only been made available to developers and a limited selection of "explorers" who paid $1,500 each for the eyewear. 

Envisioned uses range from practical tasks such as shopping or delivering local weather reports to sharing real time video streams of riding cable cars or playing augmented reality games in which the world is the board. 

"We've been listening closely to you, and many have expressed both interest and concern around the possibilities of facial recognition in Glass," the California-based Internet titan said in message to 'explorers.' 

"We've learned a lot from you in just a few weeks and we'll continue to learn more as we update the software and evolve our policies in the weeks and months ahead. 

Glass lets wearers take pictures, record video, send messages, or perform other tasks with touch controls or by speaking "Okay Glass" followed by a command. 

Glass connects to the internet using Wi-Fi hotspots or, more typically, by being wirelessly tethered to mobile phones. Pictures or video can be shared through the Google+ social network. 

Google co-founder and chief Larry Page depicted Glass as part of an ongoing effort to get computers "out of the way" so people can focus on lives enriched by what the internet has to offer.

"We want to make sure we are building experiences that make people really happy," Page said while speaking about Glass at a recent San Francisco gathering of developers.