S07.E15: Facial Recognition Software

[PrincessPurrsALot]

Main topic:  Facial Recognition Software

Other topics:  Impact of Black Lives Matter protests; Tucker One man Homeowners' Association Carlson being a racist moron; CSPAN callers discuss coronavirus

Original air date: 2020.06.13

[Lantern7]

Episode is scheduled for 11:23 p.m.

I'm willing to bet that John might spend all thirty minutes banging his head against the Void Wall.

[paigow]

There has to be something about Trump at West Point yesterday...

[Ceindreadh]

1 hour ago, paigow said:

There has to be something about Trump at West Point yesterday...

Not necessarily. IIRC, John said in the very first ‘void’ episode that he had to record on Saturday so as to give the technical people additional time to do what they do, so he may have been taping before the West Point appearance. 

[Annber03]

Ha, that ending :D. 

"One man Homeowners' Association."  LMFAO, that's totally how I'm going to refer to Tucker Carlson from now on. Between that and the bit with that ever-patient man fielding those calls I was cracking up :D.

I just love how Carlson's griping about how the left always seems to say everything is someone else's fault. 'Cause, y'know, he's totally never done that in relation to other groups of people over the years (I mean, hell, he's making that gripe in the context of an episode that, according to the graphic at the bottom, involves him ranting about the rise of left-wing groups). Look in the mirror, buddy. 

Regarding the facial recognition stuff, I'd seen it mentioned in various true crime shows and was always wary about its usage there as it was. But HOLY SHIT some of the other uses mentioned here. I mean, none of it's surprising, but it's still terrifying to think about. That bit with the girl at the cafe, yeah, that is a "Dateline" episode just waiting to happen. And when a company like Facebook thinks your facial recognition software may be going too far, that's probably a sign you need to reconsider a few things. 

Also,  there should be a required refresher course on Constitutional amendments, 'cause it's amazing how many people don't seem to understand them. 

[swanpride]

"Unlike Columbus google can read a map" that one made me laugh so hard.

Also, yes, the notion to Scan a random person and then getting all the data...that's a Stalker app!!! I have NEVER been so glad that I avoid Social media as much as possible. It's bad enough to know what an experienced Hacker can find about me, the notion that any random stranger can just collect information of me based on a picture is terrifying.

[Gothish520]

No social media here either, unless Primetimer and an anonymous, unofficial work site count, lol. 

When John was talking about the facial recognition software that had trouble identifying POC, I immediately thought of the Racial Sensitivity episode of Better Off Ted.

Edited June 15, 2020 by Gothish520

[peeayebee]

11 hours ago, Annber03 said:

"One man Homeowners' Association."  LMFAO, that's totally how I'm going to refer to Tucker Carlson from now on.

 

6 hours ago, swanpride said:

"Unlike Columbus google can read a map" that one made me laugh so hard.

Loved both of these lines.

 

1 hour ago, Gothish520 said:

When John was talking about the facial recognition software that had trouble identifying POC, I immediately thought of the Racial Sensitivity episode of Better Off Ted.

Yes, I always think of that ep whenever this particular issue comes up. (What a great show.)

I'm on FB but rarely-close-to-never post. I just use it occasionally to keep up with friends/family. Still, I'm tempted to quit it. I really don't use it that much -- and don't use Instagram -- but I suppose there's the feeling of FOMO. 

Edited June 15, 2020 by peeayebee

[AimingforYoko]

4 hours ago, peeayebee said:

"One man Homeowners' Association."

Do you think there's a writer's pool on who can come up with the best Tucker Carlson descriptor every week? Because they seem to be topping themselves consistently.

The facial recognition stuff reminded me of Minority Report.

[Annber03]

11 hours ago, swanpride said:

"Unlike Columbus google can read a map" that one made me laugh so hard.

That was a great line, too :D. I also love how he continues to poke fun at HBO Max. 

Quote

Also, yes, the notion to Scan a random person and then getting all the data...that's a Stalker app!!! 

I couldn't help being struck by how these sorts of technologies kept being created and demonstrated by men. 

It's truly amazing how attitudes regarding the internet have changed. When I was a teenager back in the late '90s we had it drilled into our heads to be super careful online with photos and personal info and whatnot. Nowadays people are happily sharing every single aspect of their lives online and tech companies are going all out in trying to scan every single part of your life imaginable. It's crazy. 

53 minutes ago, AimingforYoko said:

Do you think there's a writer's pool on who can come up with the best Tucker Carlson descriptor every week? Because they seem to be topping themselves consistently.

Whatever the reason, I'm all for it continuing as long as possible :D. 

Quote

The facial recognition stuff reminded me of Minority Report.

Seriously, I always feel like there's some people who watch those kinds of tech (or sci-fi) types of movies and completely miss that they're not intended to be how-to guides. 

On the note of movies, though, I loved John sharing those IMDB reviews of that one Denzel Washington film :p. 

[ahisma]

I had seen the good news before about Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft pulling back on facial recognition. But I had not heard about Clearview, nor Skynet and the stalker app. Uuuugh. John is right–when Silicon Valley wants to close Pandora’s box, you’re really out there. I hope Clearview loses all its VC funding.

[Ceindreadh]

It’s all very well saying you’re not on social media, but what about your friends and family who are busily sharing photos which include you in them. 
(somehow Sapphire and Steel’s warning about destroying all photos and never letting another one be taken seems oddly prescient)

[paigow]

Almost a year ago, Toronto Police announced it would stop using Clearview. 

Edited June 19, 2020 by paigow

[paigow]

The decapitated statue makes me think that Oddjob is now using his hat for good, instead of evil....Note to millennials: Google Goldfinger...

Edited June 19, 2020 by paigow

[SnideAsides]

I'm enjoying the Tucker Carlson insults way more than I enjoyed the endless Adam Driver jokes.

[swanpride]

Quote

It’s all very well saying you’re not on social media, but what about your friends and family who are busily sharing photos which include you in them. 

Yeah, that is a problem. Less with my friends who tend to be as social media wary as I am, but with my closer family. But at least they don't do it all the time, and they are fairly careful about what they share. But if they weren't, I could stop them. Under German privacy law, you can't just post the pictures of other people without permission.

It's a really, really good thing that this technology wasn't available during the time of the GDR.

[paigow]

https://www.mediamatters.org/these-are-tucker-carlsons-leading-advertisers

This is updated when somebody drops out