SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Clearview AI's co-founder Hoan Ton-That recently defended his startup's use of controversial facial recognition software:
If you're skeptical about whether your company will ever use facial recognition technology as a business tool, you're not alone. Perhaps the most prominent facial recognition technology provider in the world, Clearview AI, has attracted significant criticism and raised ethical concerns even as it has been used by law enforcement.
In a live interview with the Washington Post last week, New York-based Clearview AI's co-founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That addressed questions about the ethical and legal implications of his software, which became first known to many Americans when a billionaire used it to identify his daughter's dinner date, and for the involvement of far-right individuals in the creation of the company. Pressed on questions about the legal and ethical choices his firm has made while creating a searchable database of 20 billion facial images, Ton-That repeatedly brought up examples where the use cases of Clearview AI's technology would look better in the public eye, mentioning its use in helping catch criminals in child pornography and child abuse cases. Ton-That also pointed to the use of Clearview AI's technology by the Ukrainian government to identify dead Russian soldiers, for notifying their families of their passing.
While Clearview AI has some 20 billion facial images to feed its current product, the dataset is being used only by governments so far. "There's no non-governmental use of this dataset at this time," Ton-That said, adding that "we've developed as prototypes different versions of our technology for retail and banking."
Ton-That went on to say he welcomes regulation and his company will not do business with governments he described as "authoritarian."
Originally spotted on The Eponymous Pickle.
Previously:
Ukraine Reportedly Adopts Clearview AI to Track Russian Invaders
Italy Slaps Facial Recognition Firm Clearview AI With €20 Million Fine
Facial Recognition Firm Clearview AI Tells Investors: It's Seeking Massive Expansion
France Has Ordered Clearview AI to Delete its Facial Recognition Data
US Government Agencies Plan to Increase Their Use of Facial Recognition Technology
And many more
(Score: 4, Interesting) by looorg on Wednesday May 04 2022, @02:28PM (9 children)
Considering getting into AI and Facial recognition is kind of large, expensive, require a certain set of technical skills and doesn't really pan out all the time there is no surprise that this might have an uncertain future (or to be more correct no future) for small businesses. Even if this comes in the form of a no-brain-just-hookup-device what would they even use it for? Do I need it to identify the few clients I have as a small business owner? Not really. I know them all. It's not really a walk in business either so I don't need it for that. That said in general it seems these things just doesn't pan out. I also don't have a need, or in the business of, to identify dead russians and/or pedophiles. So what would I use it for?
It's a big brother state/country and large company tech that basically have no use, or no viable use, for small companies. There just isn't a need. They can't really afford it or the investment in time, money and personnel involved. No matter how much of a niche they might want to or try to create (for security or know your customers or whatever other creepy shit they might be dreaming up). Even for the aforementioned a lot of the usage is clearly somewhat dubious and one wonder if the need really outweigh all the downsides.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 04 2022, @04:20PM (7 children)
Do you want to keep anti-mask Karens out of your shop?
This could speed up airlines' recognizing people on the airline's private no-fly list. (Not the federal terrorist no fly list. A private no-fly list.) The FAA's zero tolerance policy of disruptive passengers is officially now permanent. (recently announced) The FAA is now fining these people in the high five figures. (70-80K) One would hope the fine would be enough to keep them off of future flights that they dream of disrupting. But a privately maintained list is necessary.
Small businesses, like airlines, could share information on disruptive people who are not good customers and who drive away good customers. The facial recognition system could spot them before they attempt (and fail) to open the front door and enter the small business they wish to disrupt.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 04 2022, @05:21PM
Hey now, don't be making dystopia sound appealing!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 04 2022, @08:36PM (3 children)
why don't we hook up your proposed facial recognition "anti-troll" program to a social credit system while we're at it too. and all-digital currency!
what could possibly go wrong! you were having a bad day and got in an argument with another airline passenger? congratulations, you're booted off the flight and your life ruined in minutes! have a nice day!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday May 05 2022, @01:33PM (2 children)
How about grow up and learn to act like an adult instead of a three year old throwing a tantrum.
Sometimes you will have a bad day. Sometimes you will have a disagreement with someone else who also might be having a bad day. An adult would not disrupt an entire flight. Ruin the day of other travelers. Cause the airline to incur costs to divert and land only so that your three year old self can be arrested, put in jail and fined tens of thousands of dollars. Disrupting everyone else's travel plans by hours. Causing missed connections which further costs the airline.
Oh, and don't try to open the aircraft door at 30,000 feet just because you're having a bad day.
If you cannot act any better than that, then you deserve to never fly again. For the good of everyone else. Everyone else is paying all those huge costs you are causing the airline. Because you have a complete disregard for your own safety and the safety of everyone else at 30,000 feet.
If you can't act like an adult, with disregard for safety, they should throw away the key.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday May 05 2022, @01:47PM
One more thing.
The fright attendant is there to do their job. They go home. Have a family. Have a life. Etc.
If you are going to physically assault the fright attendant, break their teeth and bloody their face, you deserve at least a year in prison IMO.
There is nothing about your "having a bad day" which can possibly justify that. And other horrible things these criminal types do on aircraft in order to get on the airline's bad side (eg, private no fly list)
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @04:57PM
so to be clear what you're saying is that you're fine with my scenario
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Thursday May 05 2022, @10:10AM (1 child)
I wouldn't have considered airlines small businesses, but then, I don't see the value of facial recognition there anyway. Don't you have to identify yourself to the airline in the US? I certainly need to do so in Europe. And that way they have a far more reliable identifier to check any list they might have, whether official or airline-specific, than facial recognition could ever provide.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday May 05 2022, @01:36PM
As one Republican famously said: corporations are people too!
You can't get much smaller of a business than a one person business in the form of a corporation.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 10 2022, @06:33AM
I thought public images were accepted for news purposes, but that any overtly commercial use required actor's releases for copyright purposes. Is that only true on a 'closed set'? If not why do most movies use huge crowds of extras rather than normal public pedestrians for background characters, consistency in filming?
Just a few thoughts in regards to how we could kibosh this whole industry.