For the most part, I love technology and the advances being made.
However…
Creeps are using a neural network to dox porn actresses
The upshot of this article, written by Darren Orf and found on gizmodo.com, is that by scouring the internet for photographs and using face recognition software, some very creepy individuals are able to link porn actresses, many of whom may employ stage names and may try to keep their professional and personal lives separate, to their personal lives.
These links, by the way, may be inaccurate as facial recognition software is far from perfect though like most technological things, I can only see it getting better over time. Regardless, this hasn’t stopped some of these creepy individuals from linking photographs of porn actresses with photographs of, say, graduation pictures or family life pictures and, essentially, “outing” women who may (emphasis on that word) also be involved in the porn industry.
Now I suppose there are those who will say: So what? Some porn actors/actresses don’t mind being in the public eye and, indeed, promote themselves and their work. So what if they’re exposed?
While some porn actors/actresses may indeed not mind the spotlight, there are others who may have done this as a one time lark or a short term money making job. They never intended to make this a profession yet it will potentially haunt them for the rest of their lives, especially with people using facial recognition to “out” them.
Yet again you say, “so what?” They got into the field, they should know the risks, right?
To which I would say: Look beyond pornography and you’ll find using facial recognition in this way is an extremely troubling invasion of privacy.
There probably are many, many situations where someone takes a provocative -and not at all necessarily pornographic- photograph. There are occasions where someone is “caught” doing something mildly or moderately risque. It could be a one time thing but because it was caught on camera it therefore lives forever.
As the facial recognition software improves, I can see how any “youthful indiscretions” could result in a person being searched out and, whether they like it or not, exposed for whatever actions are caught on film.
Imagine you are a reasonably well-behaved wo/man who takes your studies and/or career seriously. Over the years you attend school, then college. You earn your degree, get a stable job, and work hard to become successful in your field. During that time you marry and build your loving family.
Ten years before, while you were still single and a very young college student, you attended a party and, uncharacteristically or not for the time, got drunk. Let’s say you got so drunk you fell asleep on a couch or danced around or did something you otherwise wouldn’t had you been sober. Your friends had a little fun with you and took pictures of your drunken escapade. Nothing pornographic or even sexual, mind you, just young kids doing stupid stuff. And then someone takes a photograph of this silliness and posts it online.
The photograph and the party may be a distant memory when, ten years later, someone uses facial recognition software and connects this single photograph of a young, drunken person in a silly position with you. You’re outed and, worse still, your bosses get a hold of this information and suddenly your job and your entire career could be in jeopardy.
The party and your drunkenness (or whatever) may have been nothing more than a one time thing. Hell, it could have happened several times over the course of those early years but you’ve cleaned up and the person you were back then is certainly no longer the person you are.
And yet because of this one photograph and facial recognition software, your present may well be affected by your distant past.
A most sobering thought.