Speed Read

UN Report - Our Algorithmic World Is Creating A Social Welfare Dystopia (Digignomica, Oct 22, 2019)
In what the scathing report calls the rise of the “digital welfare state,” billions of dollars of public money are now being invested in automated systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI), predictive algorithms, risk modeling and biometrics that are radically changing the nature of social protection.
 

'Fingerprint Is Not A Big Issue': Hyderabad Police On Collecting Biometrics Of 'suspects' (MEDIANAMA, Oct 22, 2019)
“The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) even gives us the right to kill. Fingerprint is not that big an issue,” said Mohammed Abdul Rasheed, ACP of Falaknuma police station. Police in Falaknuma, in Hyderabad, are asking for the facial data and fingerprints of people who they think might be potential criminals. MediaNama spoke to Rasheed and Syed Rafeeq, Additional DCP, South Zone, Hyderabad, to understand the provision under which the police is allowed to ask for people’s fingerprints.
 

Delhi Metro Exploring Biometric Technology To Provide Targeted Concessions To Students And Senior Citizens (Swarajya Mag, Oct 22, 2019)
Embracing technology to target benefits and to ensure no misuse of the facility, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is exploring the use of biometric-based ticketing system to provide fare concessions to students and senior citizens of Delhi, reports Financial Express.
 

Immigration Bureau Talks Up Biometrics Successes (Bangkok Post, Oct 22, 2019)
The Immigration Bureau (IB) has arrested two foreigners who are accused of dealing drugs and forging a passport thanks to biometrics technology, it said on Monday. The new system, which enables investigators to identify false data, has recently played a key role in the agency's criminal crackdowns.
 

Justice to Require DNA Sampling of Nearly All Detained Migrants (NextGov, Oct 22, 2019)
The agency unveiled plans Monday to restore a rule in the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005, subsequently directing the Homeland Security Department to capture DNA samples from detained migrants—and send those samples to be analyzed and included in the massive FBI database that law enforcement officials use to identify criminals across the U.S. The ultimate goal, officials said, is to reduce crime and support investigations.
 

Atterbury Launches New Attspace Co-working Concept (BizNis Africa, Oct 22, 2019)
Security includes biometrics and a security application which also enables 24/7 access for working any time of the day or night. The shared offices enjoy the convenience of La Gratitude’s Italian restaurant, Asta La Pasta, and are a short stroll from the area’s vibrant restaurant and retail offerings.
 

Human Rights Groups Press For Evaluation Of Digital ID (Scoop, Oct 22, 2019)
Today a group of more than 60 civil society organizations, technologists, and experts from around the world released Why ID: Protecting Our Identity in the Digital Age. The open letter calls on international development agencies and funders, the United Nations, and national governments to fully evaluate the human rights implications of digital identity programs, to question whether these programs are the best tool to meet the needs of vulnerable communities, and to provide transparency to civil society and other stakeholders throughout the process of this research.
 

India Gets Ready For World's Biggest Face Recognition System (Gadgets 360, Oct 22, 2019)
With the tender submission date to procure the National Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) just 20 days away, India is closer to install worlds largest facial recognition system to track and nab criminals. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under Home Ministry, asked for the bids on July 8 which will be closed on November 8. The winner to provide AFRS will be announced on November 8.
 

New York City Eyes Regulation Of Facial Recognition Technology (Roll call, Oct 22, 2019)
Legislation that would begin to regulate the use of facial recognition technology in the country’s most populous city could soon be made into law. While cities around the country move to ban facial recognition and other types of biometric surveillance outright, the City Council here is taking a piecemeal approach, considering bills that would require businesses and landlords to disclose their use of the technology.
 

Police Say License Plate Readers Help Reduce Crime. But, How Is The Data Being Used? (11 Alive, Oct 22, 2019)
Cobb County Police said new technology is helping them stop and catch criminals with a simple camera attached to a pole. “It’s been eye-opening. Nobody expected this drop,” said Deputy Chief Stuart VanHoozer. Cobb Police partnered with Flock Safety, a crime-solving tech company based in Atlanta. The company specializes in license plate readers.
 

An Algorithm For De-biasing AI Systems (Hacka Day, Oct 22, 2019)
A group of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) CSAIL is working on a solution to “de-bias” data by resampling it to be more balanced. The paper published by PhD students [Alexander Amini] and [Ava Soleimany] describes an algorithm that can learn a specific task – such as facial recognition – as well as the structure of the training data, which allows it to identify and minimize any hidden biases.
 

Outback Steakhouse Locations in Oregon Are Being Used to Test New Employee Surveillance Technology (Williamette Week, Oct 22, 2019)
According to an article in Wired, the "computer vision program," called Presto Vision, is a product of Presto, a restaurant tech company based in Redwood City, Calif. It uses pre-existing security cameras to track metrics such as the length of time it takes for food to arrive and how quickly waitstaff tend to tables, then sends data to restaurant managers. The information can then be used "to identify problems and infer whether servers, hostesses, and kitchen staff are adequately doing their jobs," according to the article.
 

Amazon’s Facial Recognition Program Falsely Identified Duron Harmon — And He’s Not The Only One (Headlinez Pro, Oct 22, 2019)
In a test conducted by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Patriots safety Duron Harmon became among extra than two-dozen expert New England athletes falsely matched to people in a mugshot database by Amazon’s controversial cloud-essentially essentially based Rekognition program — and he’s speaking out in toughen of a proposed moratorium on govt agencies in Massachusetts the utilization of facial recognition merchandise.

 

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