Years After Promising to Stop Facial Recognition Work, Meta Has a Devious New Plan

In 2021, Facebook made headlines when it announced that it was scrapping its plans to build powerful facial recognition software into its then-nascent smart glasses. The tech giant cited the glaring privacy and ethics concerns surrounding the technology as the reason for its decision. However, four years later, it appears that Meta has officially dusted off the effort and is once again working on transforming its wearable smart glasses into a facial recognition-infused privacy nightmare.

The "Super Sensing" Feature: A Recipe for Disaster

Meta's latest initiative, internally referred to as "super sensing," aims to integrate AI-powered facial recognition with the company's smart glasses. In super sensing mode, the glasses' built-in cameras and sensors will remain on and recording throughout the wearer's day. While this may seem like a minor annoyance for some, it's just the beginning of a slippery slope towards a surveillance state.

The super sensing feature would allow users to receive personalized reminders, such as "don't forget to pick up dinner ingredients" or "grab your keys." However, it's the combination of AI and facial recognition that raises serious concerns. This technology has far-reaching implications, including the ability to track individuals in public spaces, identify unknown people at networking events, or even recognize strangers on the street.

A Recipe for Disaster: The Potential Consequences

While some may view these features as minor annoyances, the potential consequences of facial recognition technology are far more sinister. A person could use this technology to dox a stranger in public, potentially putting them in harm's way. Undercover law enforcement officials could use it to monitor peaceful protests and keep records of attendees, compromising civil liberties. And for those who may have encountered a creepy individual at a bar, the ability to look up their personal information would only add to their unease.

A Surveillance-Friendly Climate

The renewed facial recognition efforts by Meta are also influenced by a more surveillance-friendly political climate. In recent years, privacy concerns have taken a backseat in corporate and federal government decision-making. "The pendulum swings from one side to the other," said Rob Leathern, a privacy expert and former product manager at Facebook and Google. "We're kind of on that swing where some of the things that companies like Google talked about two, three, four years ago aren't necessarily being seen as quite as important."

A Step Backwards for Privacy

Meta's decision to revive facial recognition technology is a step backwards for privacy. As our understanding of the risks and consequences associated with this technology grows, it's clear that we need stricter regulations and more stringent safeguards. The fact that Meta is pushing forward despite these concerns raises questions about the company's commitment to user safety and well-being.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.