Face Search Engine Raises Privacy Concerns

holy_calamity writes "Startup Polar Rose is in the news today after announcing it will soon launch a service that uses facial recognition software, along with collaborative input, to identify and find people in photos online. But such technology has serious implications for privacy, according to two UK civil liberties groups. Will people be so keen to put their lives on Flickr once anyone from ID thieves to governments can find out their name, and who they associate with?"

"collective intelligence"

[TodMinuit]

Polar Rose relies on a combination of our unique face recognition algorithms and the collective intelligence of our users.

They seem to have made a fatal assumption.

pr0n

[User 956]

Startup Polar Rose is in the news today after announcing it will soon launch a service that uses facial recognition software,

The only "facial" recognition software I use is Google Image Search with Safesearch turned off.

Finally

[MaGogue]

Ach, so I will finally be able to look up this lovely Russian girl I've met online.
She's been sending me pictures of herself (chuckles) and her name is Sonya..
She's SO sexy she's got me worried, but my worries will finally go away as soon as I check her photo with this new service!!!

Re:Finally

[Enzo the Baker]

Here, I found her [sexchange.com] for you.

Re:you can't hide from everyone

[CantStopDancing]

and you're golden

Wouldn't you be silver? :)

Re:Lesson #1 -- Don't Expect Privacy Online

[Anonymous Coward]

In the end, the only way to ensure your privacy is to not become a part of society. If you venture into public, you too could end up on some social web site.

Preaching to the choir, my friend. Preaching to the choir.