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Biometrics

Video - Biometrics Series: Automatic Video Enrollment in Action -- Capturing Consumer Facial Biometrics

An important and emerging area of facial recognition tech is "Passive Inspection Point" tech. This means the technology automatically captures consumers' face prints as they move through public spaces like malls and on city streets. This video showcases current technology by Accenture that can automatically collect and enroll consumers' facial biometrics from many angles.

Video - Biometric Series: Automatic Border Control Entry Point Demo (Facial Recognition)

This video is of an automatic border control entry point demo, along with examples of real-world installations of automated facial recognition-based entry systems. This technology collects facial recognition information from the people passing through a checkpoint to allow or disallow entry. This "ABC" type of technology is used at entrances to places such as commercial companies, border crossings, and airports.

Video - Biometric Series Home Page: Intro to the technologies of identity

This is the World Privacy Forum video series on biometrics. We filmed these videos on site at Biometrics 2013 in London, the premier global biometrics event. We spoke on a panel about privacy and biometrics, and we explored the newest advances in biometric technologies. These videos offer a brief glimpse into some of the most important biometric devices and tech being used and developed today. This page will be updated frequently as we add new videos.

WPF Speaking at Biometrics 2013, London

October 2013 – Pam Dixon is speaking at Biometrics 2013 in London with Dr. Joseph Atick and Dr. Emilio Mordini, Director, Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship, Italy. The topic is Privacy at the Cross Road: A Debate on Frameworks. As biometrics become part of our daily lives, the issue of privacy and the protection of personal identifiable information (PII) such as biometric data is beginning to take centre stage. This debate will review the pressing issues with respect to privacy and the role of the biometrics industry in it. The audience will hear the views of prominent privacy experts that will explain what is at stake and why legal frameworks have been difficult to develop so far, and also from industry experts who will give the market perspective and the industry concern regarding the chilling effect of over-reaching privacy legislation. Delegates will also be invited to play an active role in what promises to be an exciting dialogue on the future of privacy and the role of the biometrics industry in it.

Pam Dixon writes about India's National ID Card in May/June issue of Foreign Policy Magazine

India's national biometric ID card -- In the May/June, 2013 issue of Foreign Policy Magazine, Pam Dixon writes about the privacy issues related to India's national biometric ID card. In the piece, Mission Creep, Dixon discusses how government-issued biometric ID cards that serve as national ID cards and as the basis for employment and financial transactions create profound civil liberties and privacy challenges that are neither easily or well-constrained by government policy.

WPF on CES Panel on Facial Recognition

Facial recognition -- Pam Dixon spoke at a CES panel on privacy issues in facial recognition technologies as part of the Leaders in Technology program at CES. The panel was moderated by Tony Romm of Politico and included FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen and Harley Geiger, legislative counsel for Representative Zoe Lofgren. Dixon spoke on the need for increased work on consumer options in a "sensor rich environment where there is no option to opt out by walking out." Referenced in the panel was WPF's report on digital signage and facial recognition, The One-Way Mirror Society.

Public Comments: January 2012 - Regarding Face Facts: A Forum on Facial Recognition

The World Privacy Forum appreciates the opportunity to comment on the issue of facial recognition pursuant to the FTC Face Facts Workshop held on December 8, 2011. [1] The World Privacy Forum spoke on Panel 4 of the workshop, and those comments are already on the record. In these written comments, we would like to submit several key documents for the record and reaffirm several ideas from the workshop. The documents we are including as part of these comments include the World Privacy Forum’s groundbreaking report on digital signage, The One Way Mirror Society. Also included as part of these comments are the consensus privacy principles for digital signage installations that were signed by the leading US consumer and privacy groups.

Consumer Tip: Opt out of automatic Facebook facial recognition

Privacy tip -- If you have a Facebook account and if you have ever been tagged in a photo of yourself on Facebook, we want to alert you to an important Facebook setting. Unless you have proactively changed your privacy settings, Facebook will use facial recognition tools to compare photos and make tag suggestions. When new photos that look like you have been uploaded, Facebook will suggest tags with your name. To opt out of this, in Facebook go to Account, then choose Privacy Settings from the drop down menu. Click the Customize Settings link, and then scroll down and look for the Suggest Photos of Me to Friends line. To opt out, click Edit Settings, then choose Disable on the drop down menu.

Digital Signage Privacy Principles for Consumers: Nation's leading consumer groups release new privacy principles

Digital Signage Privacy Principles -- The nation's leading consumer and privacy groups released a set of baseline consumer privacy principles to be included in digital signage networks. The principles were released at the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where World Privacy Forum executive director Pam Dixon spoke about the principles to a large group of digital signage industry professionals.

The One Way Mirror Society: WPF's new report on Digital Signage

World Privacy Forum Report | Digital Signage -- The World Privacy Forum published a groundbreaking report today on digital signage and privacy. The report, The One Way Mirror Society, discusses the remarkable consumer surveillance occurring in retail and other spaces. This is the first report on this topic to be published. From the report:

WPF to speak at FTC Privacy Roundtable

FTC Privacy Roundtable -- Thursday, January 28, WPF Executive Director Pam Dixon will be speaking at the FTC's Privacy Roundtable about the privacy implications of digital signage networks and will be specifically discussing the new report: The One-Way Mirror Society: Privacy Implications of the New Digital Signage Networks. Few consumers, legislators, regulators, or policy makers are aware of the capabilities of digital signs or of the extent of their use. The technology presents new problems and highlights old conflicts about privacy, public spaces, and the need for a meaningful debate.

WPF Report: One-Way-Mirror Society - Privacy Implications of the new Digital Signage Networks

This 2010 WPF report, The One Way Mirror Society, explores new forms of sophisticated digital signage networks and their privacy implications in the US and other countries. Digital signage networks are being deployed widely by retailers and others in both public and private spaces. From simple people-counting sensors mounted on doorways to sophisticated facial recognition cameras mounted in flat video screens and end-cap displays, digital signage technologies are gathering increasing amounts of detailed information about consumers, their behaviors, and their characteristics.

World Privacy Forum opposes California DMV plan

Biometrics and ID -- The California DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) has proposed, through an expedited 30- day process, that it begin taking detailed facial scans of drivers and storing the scans in a state-wide database. This change, among other proposed DMV changes, represents a substantial policy shift for the state of California. The World Privacy Forum has urged that this process goes through normal legislative procedures so that there is adequate time for public input and for formal hearings.

Public Comments: February 2009 - DMV proposes a major policy shift to biometric systems

On January 14, 2009, the DMV issued a Section 11 (2008 Budget Act) letter to the Legislature stating its intent to change the terms of its driver license and id card contract – including the use of biometric systems including facial recognition scans and biometric thumbprints on people seeking driver’s licenses and ID cards. Unless the Joint Legislative Budget Committee objects within 30 days, the contract with the vendor will take effect.

World Privacy Forum and Electronic Frontier Foundation File Public Comments on REAL ID

REAL ID | National ID -- The World Privacy Forum and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed joint comments with the Department of Homeland Security about the proposed national ID system, REAL ID. The comments discuss the substantial flaws in the proposed REAL ID system including concerns about the overall structure of the program, the cards, the databases attached to the cards, the lack of controls on "function creep," the possibilities for discrimination, the potential for increased risk of identity theft, issues related to potential gaps in coverage for recipients on Federal programs, among other issues.

Stop REAL ID

REAL ID -- REAL ID is a national ID card program. Currently, the Department of Homeland Security is accepting public comments on the REAL ID plan. Comments will be accepted until Tuesday, May 8. The World Privacy Forum has joined with a large coalition of groups to solicit public comments on REAL ID; to file comments, please visit the Speak Out Against REAL ID coalition page for more information. http://www.privacycoalition.org/stoprealid/

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