[Gavin Smith] ** Another key issue that increasing use of FRT sets in train is its capacity to render the face into a tool or medium of mass surveillance, an entity that can betray what, who and where you are. This has all manner of implications for our ability to retain a sense of anonymity as we engage in everyday... Continue Reading →
Face wear … the role of FRT in policing what is placed on the face
There has been understandable outcry over recent reports of Iranian authorities planning to use facial recognition technology to enforce a new law requiring women to wear the hijab when riding on public transport. Object detection software can detect the presence (or not) of a head-dress, with FR software then identifying any individuals deemed to be transgressing. The... Continue Reading →
FRT discussion on ABC Radio National ‘Life Matters’
Our research project was featured on the 27th June 2022 broadcast of 'Life Matters' on ABC Radio National. Mark Andrejevic spoke with presenter Hillary Harper about the pros and cons of the reported implementation of facial recognition and facial analysis technologies in Australian retail settings such as Bunnings, K-Mark and Good Guys. Mark was joined... Continue Reading →
FRT in Adelaide: the word on the street
Adelaide Town Hall (27_06_22) - site of our public forum: How should Australia regulate facial recognition technology? Pavement slogans left by protesters
FRT radio interview on RN ‘Future Tense’
Our research project was a feature on the 28th May 2022 episode of 'Future Tense' on ABC Radio Nation. Neil Selwyn spoke with presenter Antony Funnell about the pros and cons of the ongoing emergence of facial recognition and facial analysis technologies into Australian society. We are featured briefly at the start of the episode,... Continue Reading →
Überwachtes Leben (German radio documentary 23.05.22)
Neil Selwyn was a featured expert guest on a German radio documentary 'Überwachtes Leben' (Monitored Life) on SWR2 (broadcast 23.05.22). Neil talks about our project's investigation of online exam proctoring during the pandemic, as well as the general creep of facial recognition into schools. The program is in German - Neil is speaking just after... Continue Reading →
Facial recognition: it’s the math, stupid!
From one perspective, facial recognition is a purely computational exercise – a complex process of object scanning, data correlation and applying machine learning techniques to recognise and learn from patterns in digital image data streams. The human face is just of hundreds of different ‘objects’ that might be scanned and processed by a smart-camera – all instantaneously... Continue Reading →
The development of facial recognition – much harder than we think!
Facial recognition is a notably hyped (if not over-hyped) technology. FRT developers and vendors are keen to boost the far-reaching capabilities of their products, while critics also are ready the fear the worst of what might potentially be done. As with most emerging technologies, facial recognition is the focus for ongoing exaggerated ‘booster’ and ‘doomster’... Continue Reading →
Facial recognition as a point of national pride
One of the surprising side-shows at many recent high-profile international events is what might be described as ‘facial recognition nationalism’ - where host countries are keen to be show off their thriving local facial recognition industry. The French firm Id3’s recent involvement in the development of FRT for the Paris 2024 Olympics illustrates the significance of these... Continue Reading →
In-car facial recognition – luxury surveillance?
Recent reports that car production during 2021 and 2022 will have to decrease substantially due to the global shortage of silicon chips highlights the fact that our cars are now computational devices – realising Elon Musk’s 2015 description of Tesla being in the business of manufacturing “sophisticated computers on wheels”. While the dream of the ‘fully... Continue Reading →
Automated Vision 