The Changing Faces Of Facial Recognition

The new technology of facial recognition is starting with a smile. But as it develops, people may begin picturing it with a frown, or maybe a furrowed brow.

Currently facial recognition is primarily being used now to identify friends in social media, and to manage personal photographs. Finding friends and organizing family photos — these are truly useful, wholesome, and laudable results.

But that is just the beginning, a Government Accountability Office report warns. Like other new digital technologies, facial recognition will soon develop robust commercial applications. And the privacy implications of those applications could raise serious concerns, and difficult policy choices.