Beijing Subway to use facial recognition for passenger screening
The Beijing Subway plans to introduce security screenings that use an AI-powered camera system to divide passengers into groups based on facial recognition. The system is intended to single out people for different security measures, aiming to speed up subway traffic. The article does not report any specific incident of harm or complaint.
- Company involved
- Beijing Subway
- AI system involved
- AI-powered camera system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Walgreens deploys digital cooler doors with ads from Cooler Screens
Walgreens is rolling out digital cooler doors from Cooler Screens that display ads before showing the cooler contents. The system tracks when customers stop in front of the doors but claims to be identity-blind. Customers have expressed confusion and annoyance on social media. Walgreens says the screens provide relevant product information.
- Company involved
- Walgreens
- AI system involved
- Cooler Screens
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Kneron researchers bypass facial recognition at airport and train station using mask and photo
In December 2019, Kneron researchers tested facial recognition systems at a high-speed rail station in China, Schiphol Airport, point-of-sale terminals, and a mobile phone. Using a high-quality 3D mask and a photo on a phone screen, they successfully deceived the systems, gaining access and making purchases. The survey highlighted security shortfalls in many commercial facial recognition solutions.
- Company involved
- Schiphol Airport; high-speed rail station in China
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Barclays pilot of Sapience monitoring software causes employee stress
Barclays introduced a pilot of employee monitoring software from Sapience in its product control department at Canary Wharf. The system monitors computer activity and admonishes staff if they are not deemed active enough, recording breaks as "unaccounted activity". Employees reported significant stress and worry about taking breaks. Barclays acknowledged the pilot and said it would listen to feedback.
- Company involved
- Barclays
- AI system involved
- Sapience employee monitoring software
10 source articles · read the reporting →
UK councils use Covid OneView AI to harvest personal data for risk scoring
UK local authorities are using a system called Covid OneView, developed by data analytics firm Xantura, to harvest millions of personal details from council records. The system uses predictive analytics and AI to assign risk scores to households and individuals, aiming to identify those vulnerable to Covid or likely to break lockdown rules. Privacy campaigners and MPs have criticised the lack of transparency and the extent of data collection, which includes sensitive information such as debt levels, living arrangements, and even notes on unfaithful sex. Xantura and Barking and Dagenham Council have defended the system as compliant with data protection rules and focused on providing support.
- Company involved
- UK local authorities
- AI system involved
- Covid OneView
6 source articles · read the reporting →
EU to trial AI lie detector at airports in Hungary, Latvia, Greece
The European Union is set to trial an AI-powered lie detector system called iBorderCtrl at airports in Hungary, Latvia and Greece. The system uses a virtual avatar to question passengers and monitors their facial expressions to detect deception. Privacy groups have raised concerns about bias and error rates, noting that the technology has only been tested on 32 people. The trial will require passenger consent and will be overseen by human guards.
- Company involved
- European Union (iBorderCtrl project)
- AI system involved
- iBorderCtrl
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Hong Kong government to impose health code app with red codes, sparking privacy fears
The Hong Kong government announced it will implement a China-style COVID-19 health code app, requiring real-name registration and assigning red, amber, or green codes to residents based on their health status. The system will restrict movement and access to public places for those with red codes. Critics fear the system could be used for political control and monitoring, citing examples from mainland China where health codes have been used to target dissidents. The government says the app is necessary for pandemic response.
- Company involved
- Hong Kong government
- AI system involved
- LeaveHomeSafe app
6 source articles · read the reporting →
ChatGPT falsely tells users OpenCage offers phone lookup service
OpenCage, a geocoding API provider, says ChatGPT has been telling people it offers a reverse phone number lookup service, which it does not. Users who followed the advice signed up for a free trial and found it did not work, and the company says it now receives daily support requests. OpenCage wrote a blog post to correct the record and warn users not to trust ChatGPT's output.
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Teleperformance plans AI webcam surveillance for home-working staff
Teleperformance, a global call centre company, told some staff it would install AI-powered webcams to monitor home-working infractions such as eating, phone use, or leaving desks. The system would randomly scan for breaches and send alerts to managers. After the Guardian inquired, the company said the remote scans would not be used in the UK, but the plan raised concerns from unions and MPs about invasive surveillance.
- Company involved
- Teleperformance
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSE introduces facial recognition system for students to access digital documents
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a facial recognition system for Class 10 and 12 students to access their digital academic documents. A live image of the student is compared with the photograph on their CBSE admit card and, if the match succeeds, the certificate is emailed to them. The facility is available on Digi Locker for 2020 records and is expected to help foreign students and those unable to open a Digi Locker account.
- Company involved
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- AI system involved
- Facial Recognition System
10 source articles · read the reporting →
ViaQuatro's facial recognition system in São Paulo metro challenged in court
In April 2018, ViaQuatro installed the Digital Interactive Doors System, developed by AdMobilize, on the São Paulo metro's yellow line. The system used cameras to detect passengers' faces and claimed to infer their emotion, age, and gender in order to target advertisements. The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection (IDEC) filed a public civil action alleging that the system violated consumer and data protection laws by processing biometric data without consent and making pseudoscientific and discriminatory inferences. A judge ordered the cameras removed in August 2018, and the case is pending a final ruling.
- Company involved
- ViaQuatro
- AI system involved
- Digital Interactive Doors System (DID system)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
GSMA fined €200,000 for facial recognition privacy violation at MWC
In 2021, Dr Anastasia Dedyukhina was invited to speak at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The organizers required her to upload biometric data (passport) online for identity verification, which she refused. She was then forced to attend virtually. She filed a complaint with the Spanish data protection agency (AEPD) along with Adam Leon Smith. Two years later, the AEPD fined GSMA €200,000 for infringing the privacy of nearly 20,000 attendees through the use of facial recognition without proper justification.
- Company involved
- GSMA
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Canon uses AI smile recognition cameras to control office access
Canon Information Technology deployed AI cameras at its Beijing headquarters that only allow smiling employees to enter the office or book conference rooms. The system uses smile recognition to enforce a positive atmosphere. Some workers have complained about the intrusiveness of the technology. Canon defended the system, saying it encourages a positive work environment.
- Company involved
- Canon Information Technology (Canon China)
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Tapia robot vulnerability at Henn na Hotels allows remote spying on guests.
A security researcher disclosed a vulnerability in the Tapia robot deployed at Henn na Hotels (Robot Hotels) in Japan. The robot accepts unsigned code via NFC, allowing an attacker to gain remote access to its camera and microphone. The researcher reported the issue to the vendor 90 days prior but received no response. The vulnerability potentially affects all future hotel guests.
- Company involved
- Henn na Hotels
- AI system involved
- Tapia robot
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSA tested facial recognition on millions at Toronto Pearson Airport in 2016
In 2016, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) secretly tested facial recognition technology on millions of travellers at Toronto Pearson Airport without their knowledge. The system, supplied by Face4 Systems, matched faces against a database of previously deported individuals. The CBSA stated that no one was deported as a result of the pilot, and the technology was removed after six months. Privacy advocates raised concerns about lack of consent, transparency, and potential racial bias.
- Company involved
- Canada Border Services Agency
- AI system involved
- Faces on the Move
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon expands palm-scanning payments to all Whole Foods stores amid privacy concerns
Amazon is expanding its Amazon One palm-scanning payment system to all Whole Foods stores by the end of 2023. The biometric technology, which creates a unique palm signature from vein patterns, is used for payments and identification. Privacy advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns about surveillance, data sharing, and security risks. Amazon faces a class action lawsuit under New York City's biometric privacy law for allegedly failing to provide adequate notice.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Amazon One
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Facial recognition cameras arrive in UK school canteens
Facial recognition cameras have been introduced in UK school canteens. The Financial Times reports on this development.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Woman arrested in Moscow after facial recognition detection on Metro
A woman in Moscow was arrested on 1 March 2022 after she posted a coded protest message on social media. She believes she was detected by facial-recognition software on the Moscow Metro system. The authorities presented a screenshot of her tweet in her court hearing. The article reports that she was arrested while taking a train, five days after her post.
- Company involved
- Moscow Metro
10 source articles · read the reporting →
WorldCoin suspended in Kenya over data security concerns
WorldCoin, a digital identification protocol using iris scans, was suspended by Kenyan regulators (ODPC and Communications Authority) over concerns about data security, consent, and oversight. The system had issued digital IDs and cryptocurrency tokens to over 350,000 Kenyans. Reports of hacked orb operators and iris scans traded on the dark web have also emerged.
- Company involved
- Tools for Humanity GmbH
- AI system involved
- WorldCoin
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Presto Automation uses off-site human agents to double-check AI drive-thru orders
Presto Automation Inc, which markets an AI voice assistant for drive-thru ordering, used off-site human agents in countries including the Philippines to double-check orders in more than 70% of customer interactions, according to SEC filings reported by Bloomberg. The company told Bloomberg that the process helps train its system and should reduce human intervention over time. Presto's drive-thru AI is used in more than 400 restaurants, including Del Taco, Carl's Jr and Checkers, and its stock fell more than 10% after the reports.
- Company involved
- Presto Automation Inc.
8 source articles · read the reporting →
US CBP deploys CBP One app using facial recognition for asylum seekers amid privacy concerns
The article reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly deployed the CBP One mobile app at the Mexico border. The app uses facial recognition and geolocation to collect and verify information on asylum seekers before they enter the United States. Privacy experts warn that the app poses risks of persistent surveillance and that the facial recognition algorithm is unreliable for people of colour. A previous CBP facial recognition pilot was hacked, exposing images. CBP says the app is voluntary and data is secure.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
8 source articles · read the reporting →
N-Tech.lab's FindFace used to identify St Petersburg metro passengers without consent
Egor Tsvetkov photographed passengers on the St Petersburg metro without their permission and used N-Tech.lab's facial recognition service FindFace to match their faces to public Vkontakte profiles. He published the results in an art project called 'Your Face is Big Data', saying he wanted to show how 'digital narcissism' can lead to stalking. Privacy advocates said the project was ethically problematic because the subjects had not consented and their identities were exposed. FindFace had been launched by N-Tech.lab in February 2016.
- Company involved
- N-Tech.lab
- AI system involved
- FindFace
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Serco Leisure issued enforcement notices for unlawful biometric monitoring of employees
Serco Leisure and associated trusts used facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to monitor employee attendance at 38 leisure facilities. The ICO found they unlawfully processed biometric data of over 2,000 employees. Enforcement notices were issued ordering them to stop.
- Company involved
- Serco Leisure Operating Limited
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon Fresh drops flawed AI-powered Just Walk Out checkout system
Amazon is discontinuing its 'Just Walk Out' technology from Amazon Fresh grocery stores after the system failed to work reliably. The system, which used computer vision and AI to automatically charge customers, actually required over 1,000 human reviewers in India to manually verify transactions. Reports indicate that human review was needed for 700 out of every 1,000 sales, far exceeding Amazon's target. Amazon will replace the system with self-checkout shopping carts.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Just Walk Out
10 source articles · read the reporting →
