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To the Point

Do You Really Own Your Own Face?

Privacy advocates are warning about the loss of public anonymity from face-recognition technology that's ubiquitous thanks to Facebook and other software companies. We hear about the risks… as well as the benefits.

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By Warren Olney • Jul 10, 2015 • 51m Listen

The features that make up your face are unique to you, just like your fingerprints. Think of it as your “faceprint.” Face Recognition Technology reads photos or videos to identify you by name, location and any other personal information that turns up in a database. That has real value for a range of commercial uses—not to mention law enforcement.

But public anonymity may become a thing of the past. Facebook and other software companies have made the technology a fact of life, but there’s no consensus on how to protect your privacy.

Also, Greece's Prime Minister changes his mind on how to handle the country's economic crisis, and the Confederate Flag no longer flies over South Carolina's Capitol grounds.

Photo: Sheila Scarborough

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

    NewsNationalPolitics
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