In 1976 a rock group , Grateful Dead produced an album with the song ‘ Steal your face ‘ . The album logo was above a skull with a lightning bolt trough it. The group founder wanted this logo on their equipment to make it readily identifiable when travelling. Makes sense even though it’s not a pleasing picture , apologies also to Damien Hirst whose diamond studded skull is infamous and let’s face it a tad distasteful.
The song meantime was prophetic in the sense that a start up company Clearview are doing exactly that by compiling a data base of faces from people’s social media. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the UK’s own Information Commissioners Office are considering fines against the Company for doing so as their compilation is illegal. Biometrics of facial recognition is of course legal and used for security access to devices , buildings and passports but to do so without consent is the infringement too far.
Let’s face it to be consulted about you is the decent thing to do but the likelihood that we will not be asked going forward is increasingly likely. In China no one asks and stadium crowds are scanned to find the wanted who are unwanted in our society.
Let’s face it the skull has always been a scary image one that’s noticed and the face a unique gift to the wondrously made, some more attractive to others yet each uniquely designed and sculptured. In Chapter 8 of the book of Ecclesiastes it says that wisdom makes our face shine and takes away the hardness of it. Do we want that unique identity to be taken away Willy nilly by people or would you rather be consulted for consent ?
Facial recognition is the modern thumbprint and its been perfected to a tee. Meantime data gathering has to have its borders otherwise there will be a free for all. Let’s face it such moves by the Authorities may be too late, the horses have bolted. Staying away from social media is of course a defence to intrusion that’s right being Linked Out rather than Linked In from Disgracebook sorry Facebook and Distancegram sorry Instagram, 71% of Americans and 64% Europeans are engaged in Social Media such as Facebook whilst only 19% Africans because that World Wide Web that entangles and engages has not been fully reached or should I say Spidered.
Let’s face it times are changing and changing life as we knew it. Let’s face it together and keep on our toes looking out for that which is the wrong path to take and be mindful for good. Identity theft abounds and it’s not your wallet that the unscrupulous are after it’s now your face. Bill Sykes and Bullseye his dog no longer walk the streets in the cold they are now lurking online for your face.. Let’s face it you gotta be careful.
qbitblogger 