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 →
Amazon sued for collecting biometric data without notice in NYC stores
A class action lawsuit alleges that Amazon.com, Inc. collects biometric identifier information from customers entering its New York City stores without posting the required notice signs. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, claims Amazon uses facial recognition or other biometric characteristics to identify customers in violation of the NYC Biometric Identifier Information Law. The lawsuit seeks statutory damages and injunctive relief.
- Company involved
- Amazon.com, Inc.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
U.S. Customs and Border Protection scanned 23 million with facial recognition, caught zero airport imposters in 2020
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) scanned over 23 million people with facial recognition technology at airports, seaports, and pedestrian crossings in 2020. The agency's annual report revealed that the system caught no imposters at airports and fewer than 100 new pedestrian imposters. The system has been deployed at more than 30 points of entry since 2018, but has only caught seven airport imposters total. The article reports on the system's ineffectiveness and privacy concerns.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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 →
Hong Kong privacy watchdog raids Worldcoin offices over iris scan data collection
Hong Kong's privacy commissioner's office raided six premises linked to Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency company that requires an eye scan from clients for identification. The watchdog is investigating whether the collection of iris scans could lead to sensitive information being compromised. The raids follow investigations into Worldcoin in other jurisdictions.
- Company involved
- Worldcoin
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Hive Box Facial-Recognition Lockers Hacked by Children Using Photos
Fourth-grade students in Jiaxing, China, demonstrated that Hive Box's facial-recognition smart lockers could be opened with a printed photo. The company, which operates a large network of delivery lockers, acknowledged the flaw and suspended the beta feature. The incident raised concerns about the security of facial recognition technology.
- Company involved
- Hive Box
1 source article · read the reporting →
iBorderCtrl lie detector falsely flagged honest reporter as liar
A journalist testing Europe's iBorderCtrl virtual policeman at the Serbian-Hungarian border gave honest answers but was deemed a liar by the system, scoring 48 out of 100 with four false answers flagged. The Hungarian policeman said the result suggested further checks, though none were carried out. The reporter only learned of the result after filing a data access request under European privacy laws. Experts and transparency activists have criticised the technology as pseudoscientific and potentially discriminatory.
- Company involved
- iBorderCtrl consortium
- AI system involved
- Silent Talker / iBorderCtrl virtual policeman
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Evolv weapon detection system falsely flags Chromebooks as weapons
Evolv's AI-based weapon detection system has been reported to falsely identify certain Chromebook laptops as weapons, causing false alarms at security checkpoints. The system is used in venues such as schools. The article discusses the flaw and user experiences. No official response from Evolv has been mentioned.
- Company involved
- Evolv
- AI system involved
- Evolv
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Manchester Arena's Evolv weapon scanners fail to detect some knives, report finds
ASM Global's use of Evolv Express AI weapon scanners at Manchester Arena has been questioned after a private report found the system failed to detect large knives in 42% of walkthroughs. The report, produced by NCS4 and obtained by IPVM, also suggested the scanners may miss some bombs and components. Evolv did not dispute the findings but said it communicates capabilities and limitations to customers. ASM Global declined to comment on security matters.
- Company involved
- ASM Global
- AI system involved
- Evolv Express
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Baltimore schools monitor student laptops for suicide signs using GoGuardian Beacon
Baltimore City Public Schools uses GoGuardian Beacon software to monitor student laptops for signs of suicide. Since March 2021, the system has flagged 786 alerts, with nine students taken to emergency rooms. Privacy advocates warn the monitoring could lead to disciplinary actions, outing of LGBTQ students, and disproportionately affect disadvantaged students. School officials defend the practice as a safeguard.
- Company involved
- Baltimore City Public Schools
- AI system involved
- GoGuardian Beacon
10 source articles · read the reporting →
