this post was submitted on 26 May 2024
181 points (94.6% liked)

Privacy

31609 readers
259 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

This is half a decade old news, but I only found this out myself after it accidentally came up in conversation at the DMV. The worker would not have informed me if it hadn't come into conversation. Every DMV photo in the United States is being used for AI facial recognition, and nobody has talked about it for years. This is especially concerning given that citizens are recently being required to update their ID to a "Real ID," which means more people than ever before are giving away the rights to their own face.

The biggest problem with privacy issues is that people talk about it for a while, but more often than not nothing ever happens to fix the problem, it simply gets forgotten. For example, in the next few years Copilot will simply become a part of people's lives, and people will slowly stop talking about the privacy implications. What can we even do to fight the privacy practices of giants?

all 48 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 84 points 5 months ago (2 children)

9/11 enabled so much of this to be fast-tracked. Thanks, Patriot Act.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Have you read Means of Control (Byron Tau)? He tracks the evolution of all of this and how we got to where we are today. Yes, 9/11 fast-tracked it but there's so much more to it. Highly recommended.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

Thanks for the rec, I have not read it. It sounds like something I would enjoy, so I’ll check it out!

[–] [email protected] 39 points 5 months ago (1 children)

nobody has talked about it for years

March 2024: https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/police-use-colorado-dmv-facial-recognition-program/73-0c2d862c-a33c-4598-bc0a-e0d1a8ee287f

There are rumblings here in CO about curtailing law enforcement's use of this database. I personally would like to have subpoena protection of the database, so at least it has to go before a judge before the cops just rifle through everyone's pictures.

This is especially concerning given that citizens are recently being required to update their ID to a “Real ID,” which means more people than ever before are giving away the rights to their own face.

lol, no. Real ID is just a set of requirements the federal govt. has implemented to make sure state IDs are held to the same standard as passports re: data integrity and information presented. That's all. Not mark of the beast, not something nefarious to track you more than your old state-issued DL did in the past. As far as "recently"? Nope, states have had 20 years.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I kind of mentally prepared for it when I got my ID. Not only that but they also fingerprint your right thumb.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Just renewed my ID on Friday and I went for the Real ID. No fingerprinting. So it must differ by state.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Interesting. I'm in California

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

This is especially concerning given that citizens […]

Not everyone with a US driver’s license is a US citizen.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Correct, however this issue primary affects US citizens, given that driver's licenses aren't the only ID the DMV takes pictures for (e.g. the aforementioned Real ID)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Non-citizens also use driver’s licenses and state IDs with Real ID. It’s standard regardless of citizenship.

[–] tarix29 9 points 5 months ago

They also contract a company that trains facial recognition AI on social media. I think the Real ID is the least if most people's worries

[–] weariedfae 5 points 5 months ago

Jokes on them, they made me take off my glasses that hide aspects of my wonky face but I wear glasses 100% of the time out in the world. You'll never catch me, copper!

(I know. I just like to think it can't figure out crooked nose vs glasses. )

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Every DMV photo in the United States is being used for AI facial recognition

I'm glad I don't have a US driving license then.

in the next few years Copilot will simply become a part of people’s lives

Only those who don't care about privacy and use Windows.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago

Only those who don't care about privacy and use Windows.

So most people, then.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah, that dumbass doesn't realize the EU has been using passport photos to allow Interpol to build a database since back in 2010.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Not just Europe either. 172 countries use NFC passports, all of which have your full biometric info (including a high res headshot) encoded onto the chip.

If you've ever had a passport your face is known to the government of your country and searchable in a database.