Facial Recognition Company Refutes Viral Conservative Site's Story Used By GOP Congressman To Bolster Bogus 'antifa' Claim
(Alter Net, Jan 07, 2021)
In response to the Capitol Hill chaos, House Republicans Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-SC) claimed there was facial recognition evidence to prove antifa protesters infiltrated the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol building. The Washington Times was reportedly the original source of that story. On Wednesday, Jan. 6, the conservative news outlet claimed the advanced technology company had "used its software to do facial recognition of protesters and matched two Philadelphia Antifa members to two men inside the Senate," reports Buzzfeed.
A Move Has Come From Intel To Strengthen Face Recognition
(SO MAG, Jan 07, 2021)
Intel unveiled facial recognition solution that can increase security for smart locks, point-of-sale systems and more. The new product, referred to as RealSense ID, has the ability to detect depth unlike other devices. Combining an active depth sensor with a private neural network to provide secure and successful authentication, RealSense ID offers convenience with its use that does not require network setup. At the same time, the new technology promises to adapt to the change of users over time.
New York Privacy Proposal Portends Potential Class Action Wave
(Bloomberg Law, Jan 07, 2021)
Lawmakers in New York have proposed privacy legislation covering data from facial scans to fingerprints that could usher in a new wave of potentially costly class action lawsuits over alleged violations. The Democrat-led bill, introduced in the state’s assembly Wednesday, would set rules for collecting and using biometric data, including a requirement to get consent. The measure is similar to proposals the state’s lawmakers have floated in past legislative sessions, though this time it comes amid a growing focus on facial recognition uses. The measure echoes Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. Like the Illinois law, the New York proposal,...
Ann Arbor Considering Ban On Police Use Of Facial-recognition Technology
(M Live, Jan 07, 2021)
Ann Arbor officials are considering a ban on police use of a facial-recognition technology. The issue came up this week as City Council reconsidered its recent approval of a $348,308 contract for new dashboard cameras for Ann Arbor Police Department vehicles. Even though facial-recognition technology is not part of the contract and Police Chief Michael Cox said AAPD doesn’t use it, Linh Song, a council liaison to the city’s police oversight commission, said she brought the contract back for reconsideration Monday night, Jan. 4, to have a public discussion about it and address concerns.
New York State Halts Use of Facial Recognition Tech in Schools
(21 Century State, Jan 07, 2021)
New York State has temporarily halted the use of facial recognition technologies in schools pending further investigation of the technologies. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that suspends the use of facial recognition technology and other kinds of biometric technology in schools. In addition to the suspension, the bill directs the State Education Department to conduct a study of whether the use of facial recognition and biometric technologies are appropriate in schools and issue recommendations.
Cyber Daily: Europe's Consumers Seek Resolution in Google Privacy Case | Security, Disinformation Issues Amid Washington Tumult
(Wall Street Journal, Jan 07, 2021)
GDPR fatigue is setting in. Consumers are frustrated by how long it takes to resolve some European privacy cases, especially ones involving large multinationals, under the General Data Protection Regulation, WSJ Pro's Catherine Stupp reports. Some privacy advocates now try to bypass the GDPR process by filing lawsuits in courts—instead of issuing complaints to privacy watchdogs—and by lodging complaints under an older EU privacy law.
NEC’s New Facial Recognition System Works Well With Masked Persons
(TechNadu, Jan 07, 2021)
NEC has launched a new facial recognition system and claims that it works well even if the scanned person is wearing a mask. This is the only facial recognition system that could work today and in the new reality that we’re living in, as most countries in the world have made the wearing of a respiratory mask mandatory. This is a very challenging situation that not even Apple has managed to tackle, having iPhone users who were unable to unlock their devices via Face ID resorting to PINs.
