NameTag face recognition program defenders called "creepy"

The new application for smartphones NameTag will check any passerby in social networks and dating sites. We saw a girl at the bar, turned on the camera - and found out the name and surname, age and where she studies. Even more convenient if you have Google Glass glasses, then checking profiles is even easier.

The official site says that the algorithm works if the object has previously tied profiles from social networks to its photograph, that is, it would voluntarily agree to a check. But the demo video shows that the program recognizes the faces of people who could not agree in advance, including the faces of 450 thousand criminals from the US open sex offenders database and other criminal databases.


')
The application from the company FacialNetwork.com caused outrage among representatives of human rights organizations. They logically suggested that such programs could recognize the faces of passers-by without their permission, which would be a real nightmare from the confidentiality point. It will be possible to automatically recognize on the street people with a criminal history, ex-criminals, married / unmarried / divorced women, people of gay sex, etc. (filtering by Facebook profiles).

NameTag developers categorically reject the fears of human rights defenders. On the contrary, they believe that recognizing the faces of passers-by will make our life more interesting: “I believe that this will make online dating and offline relationships much safer and allow us to better understand the people around us,” says program author Kevin Alan Tussy. - It is much easier to meet interesting people, just looking around, see your Facebook profile, explore the LinkedIn page and, maybe, the profile on a dating site. Previously, we had to meet people blindly or not at all. NameTag for Google Glass will change that. ”

The technology clearly has great promise. And no matter how indignant human rights activists were, and even if Google so far prohibits such applications for Google Glass, but technical progress cannot be stopped. And if fast scanning of millions of photos becomes technically possible, then there is no doubt that such applications will become popular. Moreover, face recognition programs are already working in casinos and many stores for automatic recognition of known scammers and thieves at the entrance to the institution.

At the moment, released a closed beta version of NameTag for Google Glass. Until the end of I quarter. 2014, the developers promise to release versions for Android and iOS.