(Don't) Say Cheese

Looks like the Hoosier state is quite a trend setter in facial verification technology these days. Back in December, I wrote about Indiana's Bureau of Motor Vehicles restricting scarves, hats and glasses, but the one prohibited 'accessory' that drew the most attention was none other than a teethy grin!

Now, three other states are following suit as researchers have concluded smiles inhibit the technology from accurate identifications, and more 'neutral' expressions are much more conducive to proper authentication.

Arkansas, Nevada and Virginia are all installing systems similar to that of Indiana's BMV and will compare new driver photos with those already existing in the database. If there happens to be a match -- which indicates attempted identity fraud -- department personnel will be immediately notified.

While computerized matching isn't an entirely new venture (31 other states already do it, including Texas and Oregon, and other states like California are well on their way), the regulation on smiles is a step in a new direction.

Despite drawing a few red flags, this type of preventative measure -- using technology to cut down on identity theft and fraud -- is an improvement for all parties concerned. As the article states, Illinois alone has stopped 6,000 attempted fraud cases since first installing the system a decade ago, and with numbers like that, it isn't far-fetched to say the main benefactor of this new technology is the driver!

However, for everyone to realize the advantages derived in such widespread initiatives -- I'm not referencing only DMV deployments, but also public surveillance grids and the like -- program goals and purposes must be explained to the public to ensure their understanding. People will always be resistant to silly or needless rules, so they need to be informed that new developments are being put in place to benefit them! Plus, even though they are nearly always awful, the license mugshot has an undeniable place in American culture and may cause quite the uproar considering the limited number of laughs a 'neutral' face can garner.

Smiles or no smiles isn't what matters -- it's the consistency of the pictures that is at the heart of the issue. While choosing a “neutral” expression probably makes the most practical sense, perhaps we can rise up in revolt and demand that our smiles become the norm if we feel strongly enough! The request might be more difficult to satisfy technologically, but a happy-looking driver may make the DMV a bit more bearable for the semi-annual visit many often make.

There is also more advanced technology out there today that might make this debacle less painful -- just think of that "smile detection" feature on most digital cameras on the market. Using it in reverse and adding on other filters designed to weed out squinting or general silly, odd, or bad poses or expressions, dare I say it might make it possible for the entire American driver population to have a half-decent license photo and one that is immune to identity fraud?

Looks like we're headed in that direction.

Daily Headline Update: April 13, 2009

Starting today, I'll be posting the latest news updates a few times per week in order to make sure everything I report here is as timely as possible. Nothing too detailed, just a few highlights on anything I find fascinating -- anything from surveillance and physical security to robotics and UAV news. Let me know what you think!

DMV Announces New Secure Driver License and Identification Card System
Hoy En Delaware
April 13, 2009

• The Delaware DMV is in the process of implementing a new secure driver license and identification card system. Similar to initiatives in California and Indiana, the DMV hopes to implement a new system that will increase the security process by which the DMV issues driver's licenses.
• According to the article, the new system will employ enhanced facial recognition technology in order to protect Delaware residents from identity theft. In doing so, the system will compare the applicant’s current photograph with the division’s entire photograph database to ensure the applicant does not have a driver license/ID card in another name and to ensure the individual is not trying to commit identity theft.
  

The hidden features in Apple's latest iPhoto update
ComputerWorld
April 10, 2009
Ryan Faas

• Last week, Apple announced more "overall stability" and fixes for "minor issues in a number of areas, including Faces, Places, photo sharing, and slideshows."
• Specific areas include the ability to tell iPhoto to rescan pictures and detect missing faces, recognize manually added faces by drawing a box around a person's face and tagging them when Faces doesn't recognize them. Tagging misidentified people allows users to simply click once or twice on each photo to indicate whether Faces' guesses are correctly identified and also trains iPhoto to recognize the person going forward.
  

Cameras, sensors spark government surveillance debate
Democrat & Chronicle
April 10, 2009
Brian Sharp

• Locally, the Rochester Police Department's reliance on data-crunching computers and license-plate reading scanners triggered a backlash this week from a citizens group called Activists Against Racism Movement.
• In a statement to the media, the group labeled the targeted enforcement a "dragnet" and "absolutely racist in nature," predicting that it will predominately snare minorities for minor offenses.
• Doubt remains about whether the technology actually prevents crime, or just relocates it. People do tend to feel safer, experts say. Witnesses are more likely to cooperate with police if they think a camera also caught the action, and so property crime declines, but research has yet to document a corresponding drop in violent crime.
  

Weekly News Summary from Around the Globe

Thought I'd highlight a few of the headlines that caught my eye this week -- including a little of our own news!

On Tuesday, we announced that Al Shipp, former VP of the Enterprise Divison at Apple, would be taking over my position as CEO, and I'll be continuing on as chairman. It's a pivotal stage in the company's development, and we're thrilled to have Al onboard! Check out an informal interview between Al and myself here.

Also, lots of chatter with regards to driver's licenses recently -- last week, California's proposal to use biometric technology to create a database containing facial and fingerprint information had privacy advocacy groups up in arms. In Oklahoma, a Senate bill to eliminate fingerprints as a requirement to receive a license at all was passed. On the other hand, across the border in British Columbia, as part of the government's latest efforts to prevent identity theft, both identification and driver's licenses will now incorporate facial recognition technology. With the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles cracking down on smiles and acceptable apparel, it looks like each state (and province) will continue to have its own technological and political battles to fight.

While national airports have deployed advanced security systems for years for border protection, California's southern coastal borders are now looking to implement similar security technologies.The Port of Long Beach this week opened a $21 million command center with 115 cameras to monitor the port's 3,200 square feet -- and are claiming to be able to read badge numbers from over two miles away! Impressive stuff.

In the same vein, surveillance cameras may soon have a new use in the hospitality industry, particularly hotels. This week, a UK security firm revealed that one of their hotel clients installed their system not for security purposes, but rather the improvement of guest services -- in order to recognize and properly greet returning customers.

Let's hope those cameras have higher accuracy readings than those I received on MyHeritage earlier this month.

Protecting Citizens and Foiling Criminals: California DMV Looks to Biometrics Technology to Prevent Identity Fraud

Some consumer rights groups in California are up in arms around plans for the state Department of Motor Vehicles to use biometric and facial recognition technology to identify citizens and control identity fraud.

The California DMV has applied to use biometric technology to create a database that would contain facial and fingerprint information for all California citizens over the age of sixteen. The technology would be used to verify the identities of applicants for driver's licenses and ID cards and would additionally have the ability to compare new photos against older records, thus confirming the individual's identity and thwarting potential identity thieves.

The DMV claims the new system will reduce fraudulent driver's licenses -- pointing out that more than 1,200 identification cards are linked to the wrong individual each year. They are asking for roughly $63 million over the next five years to institute the system and begin creation of the database. States including New Mexico, Texas, Oregon and Georgia have already implemented biometrics technology and experienced success.

On the other hand, groups including the California American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the World Privacy Forum, and the Consumer Federation of California are protesting the proposal and calling on legislators to halt the contract's progress. Because the information contained in the DMV's database would be accessible to government agencies, some claim that it could be used for other purposes besides basic identity recognition. Privacy group leaders also worry about data falling into the wrong hands, and insist that safeguards must be put in place to ensure that the implications surrounding biometric data are fully discussed and understood by the public.

While the privacy concerns of innocent citizens are always valid and it certainly is necessary for people to be cognizant of data being held by government agencies, this case is in fact an excellent use of facial recognition technology. To apply for and receive a DMV identification card, citizens are required by prove their identities often with 2 or 3 other pieces of information. Therefore, the only people who have real privacy in this situation are the fraudsters, criminals and identity thieves who resort to using fake information and documents and never reveal their true identity in official records.

Ultimately, using facial recognition technology to prevent the acquisition of fake IDs in scenarios like this one helps everyone. While concerns that this type of biometric comparison may ultimately be used to track the general public in ways that genuinely impinge on privacy are legitimate, this is why sensible, balanced surveillance policy and technology is so important.

Image via Mercury News