Amazon's "Dangerous New Face Recognition Technology" Says ACLU

Author: John Honovich, Published on May 23, 2018

The ACLU has caused a stir, with a new report Amazon Teams Up With Law Enforcement to Deploy Dangerous New Face Recognition Technology, explaining:

Powered by artificial intelligence, Rekognition can identify, track, and analyze people in real time and recognize up to 100 people in a single image. It can quickly scan information it collects against databases featuring tens of millions of faces, according to Amazon...

With Rekognition, a government can now build a system to automate the identification and tracking of anyone.

Most importantly, the ACLU requested and received 147-pages of information on Amazon's interaction with US government entities. Based on that evidence, our conclusion is that Amazon is having success with greater potential for mugshot comparisons but much more challenges for 'real time' facial recognition. Inside this note, we share our review of that 147-page file, calling out the most notable passages and what that reveals about Amazon's progress, or lack thereof, in facial recognition.

*** **** *** ****** * ****, **** * *** ************ ***** ** **** *** *********** ** ****** ********* *** Face *********** **********, **********:

******* ** ********** ************, ************** ********, *****, *** ******* ****** ** **** **** *** ********* up ** *** ****** ** * ****** *****. ** *** quickly **** *********** ** ******** ******* ********* ********* **** ** millions ** *****,********* ** ******...

**** ***********, * ********** *** *** ***** * ****** ** automate *** ************** *** ******** ** ******.

**** ***********, *** **** ********* *** ***********-***** ** *********** ** ******'* *********** **** ** ********** ********. ***** ** **** ********, *** ********** ** **** ****** is ****** ******* **** ******* ********* *** ******* *********** *** much **** ********** *** '**** ****' ****** ***********. ****** **** note, ** ***** *** ****** ** **** ***-**** ****, ******* out *** **** ******* ******** *** **** **** ******* ***** Amazon's ********, ** **** *******, ** ****** ***********.

[***************]

Missing *****

*** **** ********, ***-******* ***** ** *** **** ** **** Amazon ****** ** ******* ** **** ******:

**** ** **** ** ******* ** ********** ******, *** ***** an *** ** *** ** ******'****************** *********** *******.

** *** *** * **** ** *** **********, *** **** of ******** ****** ** **********. *** ** *** *** *** ACLU, *** *** ****** ** **** ** **** ****** ** the ***** ********* ************ ** ***** **********, ******, **********, ****** officers *** *** **** *** ** *** ** *******.

Best *** **** *********

*** **** ********** ******, *******, ** *** *********, ******** **** for *** *******, ** ** ******** ******** *** ********:

Cheap *** ******* ***** ***********

****** *********** ******* **** ****** ** *** ***** ** **** systems **** **** ************ ********* *** *****. *******, *** **** that ** ** ** *********** ** *** *** *** ******* queries *** ***** (*.*., '$* * ***** ** ****') ** disprutive ************.

Not ****-****

*** ***** ********** ****** ***** *****, **** ******'* ********* *** the ****'* *****, ** **** ***** ******** '****** ******* ** less **** ** *******'. ***** **** ** ********* ******** ** doing **** ********, ** ** **** **** *** *** ********* and ***** ** ****-**** ********.

Problem ***** ******

********** ****** ******** **** **** *** ** *** *** *** problems **** **** ***** ****:

Built ** *** ** ******

*** ********** ****** ******** ******** *** ** ***** ** ** top ** ************** ******* / ***:

**** ** *** * ****** ****, ** *** ******** ******** he ********** *** *********** ** **** *** *** **** **** recognition *** ** *** *** '**** ****':

**** ******* *** *** ******* **** **** ***** ** *** local ****, ***** **** ******** *****:

Orlando ****-**** ****** ************ *********

**** ***** ** **** ********** ********** *** **** ********* *** privacy ** *** ****'* ****** ***** ******'* ***** ** *******, where *** **** ********:

*********** **** ************ ** *** ********* ****** ******* ** ****-****,********* ** ******, ******** *** ******* ** ****** *** “****** ** ********” as ******* ***** ** **** “******* *** **** *** ****.”

*** ******* ** **** *** **** ***** ******** ******** ***** ***, *** ** ******** ****** ** ****** *** ******* *** system **** *** ********* ***** ****:

***** *** **** **** ***** ******, ** *** ********* ** their ********. *** ***, *** ********** ****** **** ***** * ~ **-****** ********** ****, *** **** *** ********** **** ****** cloud *******, **** *** *** ***** ** '****-****' (***** ****-**** means **** * ****** ** ***).

********, ******* ***************** ***** ****** ** *** ***:

*** *** *** ***** ** ****** *******, ***** ****** ******* information ** ******* *** ******* ********** *** ** *** ****-**** or *** **** *** **** **********.

****, *** *** *****, **** ** *** *********, ***** *** delays ** ********** ******** *** *** ******* ******** ******** **** would ***** ******** **** ** *****, **** ** **** **** than *******.

ACLU ***** ** *********** **** *** ******** ** ****** ******

**** *****, ** ***** *** **** *** ****** *** ****** better ********** ***** ******** ** *** ********** *** *** ********* risks ** **** **********. *******, *** **** ***** **** ******** than *** ***** *********, ****** *********** ** *******. ******** ***** overstated ********* ***** * ************ ******* *****, *** **** ******* it. ***** **** *** ****** ******** *** ** *** ********** how *** ********** *****, ** ***** **** ***** **** ******* the ********* ***** *** ****** ** *** *******, **** ** the ********** ** *** **** ***** **** ****** ** ** be.

Outlook ***** - ********* ** ********

*** ********** ****** *** **** ** * **** **** ******* of * ***-**** *** ** *** ********** ** ******* **** a ****** ******* ** ******** *** ********. ** ****** **** to ******** ** ******.

*******, *** ****-**** '*** **** *** ****' *** ** ****** Rekognition ** **** **** ***********, ** ***** ********* **** **********.

Comments (18)

Undisclosed End User #1

05/23/18 06:46pm

**** ** *** ******** ********* **** ******* ****** *** ***'* have *** ****** ******** ******* ** ** ****!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #1 | 05/23/18 08:02pm

*** **** ** *** *** ******* ** *** *** * think **** *********** ***** ** ***********.

**************:

- *** ***** **** ******* ** *** *** ******** ******** go ** * ***** ******? *****. *** ***** ** **, the **** ****** *** ***** ** ***** ********* ** ******** (i.e., ****** ******* ** *** ********* *** *** *** ** actual *** *********).

- *** ***** ** ******* **** ******* **** *** ******. You **** ** ******* *** ***** ****** *** *****, *** the *****, **** **** ** ******, **** *** ****** ** return * *****. ** **** ****, *** ****** *** **** moved ***** ***.

- **** *** **** ** ******** *** ** ***** ** review **** ** ***** ****** (***** ******* ** *** ******* of ** * *****).

Undisclosed End User #1

In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/18 08:21pm

*** ******* ** ** ***'* **** *** ***** * *** offender ****** * ******. (**** ****: ** *** ********** * visitor ********** ****** **** **** ** *** *****, *** ********** doesn't **** **** ******* ** * ***'* **** **** **** this **** ******. ************, **** ************** **** ************* **** *** type ** *****).

* ***** *** ******* **** **** ****** ***'* ***** *** most ************, ***. *** **** ** ************, *** ***.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #1 | 05/23/18 08:26pm

******* - **** ******* ********** ****** ** ********* ****** *********** / ******** / *** ******** ***** ** ***** ********? * could *** *** *****, **** ***** *** *** ****** * picture ** *** ****** ***** ** ***** ** ***, *** quality ***** ** ******.

Undisclosed End User #1

In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/18 08:36pm

*** ******* ********** ****** *'* **** ******** **** ******** **** ********.

*** *************, ** *****'* *** ****** ***********, ****** ************-***** *** end-user ********** *********. **** *****, **** ** ** *******, *** it ***** *** * ******** *****.

** **** **** **** ** **** ** ***** * ********* sticker-badge **** *** ***** **** **** **.

**** ****** ********* ***** * ***** ****-** ***** ** ******** for ******* ********. * ** ***.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 05/23/18 08:41pm

************* *** * *** ******** ********* ******* ***** ******** *** 50 ***** ********* ***** ** **. *** ** *****'* **** facial ***********, ******.

Avatar

Lynn Harold

In reply to John Honovich | 05/24/18 11:05pm

* *** ***** ***, * *** ** ************** ** * private ****** **** *** **** ***** *** **** ** *** sex ******** ********. ** **** *** ******'* **** *** *** to ***** ******* *** ******** (** **** ******** ******'* ******** to ******** ********). * ******** *** * *** ** *** 1 - **** * *********** **** * ********** *** *** same **** *** *** ** ******* ** *** ********, *** was ******* *** *** **** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Lynn Harold | 05/24/18 11:29pm

****, ******!

**** * *********** **** * ********** *** *** **** **** and *** ** ******* ** *** ********

**** * ********* *** **** ******, *** ****** **** ******** but *** ******* **** ** ***** ****** ********* *** ***.

Slava H

3dEYE Inc. | 05/23/18 09:13pm

***** *** **** * ************* ******** ****. **** *******, ****** keep ** *** **** ****.

**** $* **** ** * ******* ****** - ***** **** Orlando ****** ******** **** ***** ** ***** *** ******** (***** is ***.**$ ******) *** ******* ****** (******) *** *********** *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Slava H | 05/23/18 09:41pm

*****, ******! *** $* ***** ***** **** **********, *** *******. I ** *** **** **** ******* *** *****.

*******, *** ***** ******* ** *** $***.** ******,**** **** **:

*** ***** **** ***,*** ******. **** ****** **** * *** but, *** **********, ***** *** *** *** ****** ** ******* in * ***** (*.*., *,***,*** ******* ** * *****), ** even * ****** ****** **** ******* * ***** ***** ** seconds ***** ******** ****.

Slava H

3dEYE Inc. | In reply to John Honovich | 05/24/18 12:29am

** ****, *** *** *****.

***, ***$ ****** ***** ** ** *** ******** ******, ***** 3$ *** ******* ** **** *********** ***** ******* *** *.*$ for ** **** *********** ********** (***** *$ ******).

** * *** ******* *** **** ** ****** **** ***** about *$ ******* ******. * ***'* ***** ****** ****** *** use *** ***** ***** ****** ********.

*** ***, ** ******* ** ****** ****** *** **** ** process. ** ** **** ** ******* ***** **** ****** ** would **** **$ *** ****** *** ******** *** *.** *** regular *** ***** *********** *******. **** ** **** * ********** fees ** *********** *******.

*** ***** *** **** ****** ************ ******** ***** ** ** use **** **** ** ******/**** ********* ** ******** **** ********* processing. ****** ******* ** ******* ****** ***** **** ** ** processed **/* *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Slava H | 05/24/18 12:58am

* ***'* **** ***** *** ********** ***** ******* *** * think *** $***.** ** *** *** **** ****** *** ********* the ******** ******* ********.

Slava H

3dEYE Inc. | 05/24/18 07:12pm

***, *** *** ***** ****.

***$ ****** ** *** ******* *** ******** ***** *** ***** is *.*$ *** **** ***** *** ********** ** *.**$ *** 1000 ****** *** ******* ***** ******.

Paul Shah

06/27/18 05:40pm

******* ****** *** **** ** ******'* ****-**** ****** '***********' ******

Undisclosed #2

06/27/18 11:58pm

***** ** ** ******** **** ** ** ** *** ******. AI ********** **** ****** *** ****** ** ****** *** *** guy **** *** ** **** ** ** ********.

**** ******** *** /******* ***.

* **** ***'* **** *** ** ***** *****!

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | 07/12/18 06:44pm

******* ** ** ********* *** **** ** ****** '***********'

Michael Miller

07/26/18 09:56pm

******'* **** *********** ******* ******* ** ******* ** ******** **** Mugshots.

Undisclosed #3

12/14/18 09:16am

******:**** ******* ***** *********** ** *********** *** **** ***** ********* Amazon ******

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Massive Leak Of Chinese VMS Provider Exposes Xinjiang Surveillance on Feb 20, 2019
A subsidiary of China’s claimed largest VMS provider is tracking the precise location and ethnicity of millions in China’s Xinjiang region,...
Casino Surveillance Pro Interview: James Lathrop on Feb 15, 2019
James Lathrop has been working in casinos for almost 25 years. During that time, he says he has held "just about every job you can do in the...
ADT And 'The Defenders' Silent About Massive Complaints on Feb 14, 2019
ADT's largest dealer, "The Defenders" has been the subject of a massive number of complaints over many years and many forums, most recently a CBS...
Austria’s First GDPR Fine Is For Video Surveillance on Jan 29, 2019
Should EU businesses be concerned if police see a business' surveillance cameras filming public areas? This is what happened with Austria’s first...
Intersec 2019 Show Report on Jan 23, 2019
The 2019 Intersec show, held annually in Dubai, is now complete. IPVM attended for 3 days, interviewing numerous Chinese and Western video...
NYPD Refutes False SCMP Hikvision Story on Jan 18, 2019
The NYPD has refuted the SCMP Hikvision story, the Voice of America has reported. On January 11, 2018, the SCMP alleged that the NYPD was using...
The False SCMP Story on Hikvision NYC AI on Jan 14, 2019
In the past week, one of Asia's largest publications, the South China Morning Post (SCMP), posted an article about "Chinese [facial recognition]...
CES 2019 Show Report on Jan 10, 2019
IPVM was at CES 2019 for the second year (see our CES 2018 Show Final Report) and is reporting on announcements and interesting news from the show...
UK: Private Video Surveillance Complaints Down Since GDPR on Jan 09, 2019
The arrival of the GDPR on May 25, 2018, brought fears the law would spark a massive increase in privacy complaints about security camera use....
IPVM Best New Products 2019 Opened - 70+ Entrants on Jan 07, 2019
The inaugural IPVM Best New Product Awards has been opened - the industry's first and only program where the awards are not pay-to-play and the...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Outdoor Camera Mounting Hardware Guide on Feb 21, 2019
Mounting cameras outdoors can be challenging, requiring understanding different types of equipment and methods. In this guide, we teach this...
HID Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 21, 2019
HID favorability results were strong, in the 2019 IPVM integrator study of 200+ integrators, with a net +62% and low negativity as the table below...
First US State, Vermont, Bans Dahua and Hikvision on Feb 21, 2019
The first US state, Vermont, has issued a ban on a number of Chinese and Russian manufacturers including the world's 2 largest video surveillance...
ADI 'SAVE BIG' On FLIR And Hikvision Examined on Feb 20, 2019
One is a major US defense supplier. The other is owned by the Chinese government. But you can "SAVE BIG" on both at ADI. In this note, we...
BluB0x Company Profile on Feb 20, 2019
BluB0x has doubled in revenue every year since its founding in 2013, according to CEO Patrick Barry. We originally reported on them in 2015. At the...
Security Installation Tools Guide - 22 Tools Listed on Feb 19, 2019
In this guide, we cover 22 tools that security installers frequently use. This is one part of our upcoming Video Surveillance...
Sales Cuts At Rasilient on Feb 19, 2019
Over the past 2 years, video surveillance storage specialist Rasilient has expanded its workforce significantly, aiming to build its own branded...
Exacq Raises VMS Software Pricing Twice in Less Than a Year on Feb 18, 2019
Most VMSes regularly release new features, but rarely increase their prices. For the 3rd time in 4 years, and 2nd time in 8 months, since being...
Axis IR Multi Imager Camera Tested (P3717-PLE) on Feb 18, 2019
Axis has released their first IR multi imager, the P3717-PLE, a repositionable model listing 360° IR illumination and flexible positioning,...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact