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  1. The New York Times CompanyBruce Schneier1/20/206 min
    8 reads9 comments
    6.8
    The New York Times Company
    8 reads
    6.8
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    • Alexa4 years ago

      It seems much easier to get riled up about facial recognition because it feels so...personal. (although don't get me started on people uploading their selfie to programs with debatable privacy policies to see what they look like old, or as the opposite gender etc....)

      Perhaps that is why it's far more challenging to get people excited (or freaked out) about other data. It feels like it wouldn't matter if "big data" knows we bought socks or are friends with someone, but that data is far more robust at targeting us as consumers than facial recognition ever will be. It's more about how we feel about someone using our faces against us, vs our buying pattern, some sort of psychological line gets crossed.

      • bill
        Top reader of all time
        4 years ago

        Yes!!! “Some sort of psychological line gets crossed.” Thing is, we just keep redrawing the line. I used to think (until VERY recently) that that was a problem. Now I think it’s awesome.

        Ok, now here’s where you’re going to start thinking I’m crazy. I actually think its all about this:

        Can we get away, if/when we need to, from the robots?

        • jbuchana4 years ago

          This reminds me of Jack Williamson's The Humanoids. Robots killing with kindness, and you just can't get away from them.

          • bill
            Top reader of all time
            4 years ago

            Whoa. How do they do it? The robots today are "killing us" (heavy quotes!) with promises that they can make us happier, healthier and more productive. The "killing" part is that they're taking all of our time. After all, isn't life just some interval of time?

    • jeff4 years ago

      I read this article twice but I'm still missing the point. I propose a new rule that whenever someone says "we need new rules" (five time in this article) they have to state what those rules would actually look like.

      Yes, the author is correct that facial recognition is but one of many ways individuals can be identified and tracked. What really disturbs me though are lazy, non-specific cries for authorities to regulate the free flow of information in order to address a poorly defined problem.

      • bill
        Top reader of all time
        4 years ago

        I propose a new rule that whenever someone says "we need new rules" (five time in this article) they have to state what those rules would actually look like.

        Lol. Touché! I don’t think you’re missing the point, but I think you want a better one. The point is the second sentence of the second paragraph:

        Focusing on one particular identification method misconstrues the nature of the surveillance society we’re in the process of building.

        Lol. Now, here’s a riddle: Is a dull point still a point!?

        • jeff4 years ago

          Isn't that sentence describing how we're missing the point, not what the point actually is? If we expand the second sentence of the title, wouldn't it be something like:

          We're Banning Facial Recognition. We're Missing the Point About Why We Should Be Concerned About All Methods of Identification and Tracking.

          Is a dull point still a point!?

          Coastline paradox!

          • bill
            Top reader of all time
            4 years ago

            🤣 I can’t handle fractal thoughts right now. So I especially can’t handle fractal thoughts about fractals.

    • jbuchana4 years ago

      Nothing new here if you've been keeping up, but a good reminder.