Facebook defends using profile pictures for facial recognition

Facebook's 'Tag Suggest' feature currently identifies faces in newly uploaded photos by comparing them with pictures in which the users have previously been tagged. Facial recognition software is used to calculate a unique 'template' based on someone’s facial features, like the distance between the eyes, nose and ears.

Templates are only created for people on Facebook who have been tagged in a photo. Facebook users can choose to de-tag themselves from photos posted by other users on the site, and these photos will not be used to create the template.

However, in an August update to its data use policy, the social network revealed plans to use profile pictures as well as previously tagged photos to suggest tags. Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan said that adding members' public profile photos would make it easier for users to identify photos in which they appear.

The news caused an outcry from privacy campaigners, who warned that users would no longer have the option to avoid Facebook's facial recognition software.

In an attempt to mollify users, Facebook has now published a number of 'clarifying edits' to its data use policy, claiming that that using profile pictures to suggest tags is designed to increase the user's control and awareness of information about them on Facebook.

"The way this feature works is, after a photo is uploaded it may prompt the question – do you want to tag this photo – to your friends. If that photo is then tagged, you are notified that a photo of you has been posted so you can check it out. After that, it is up to you what action to take– for example, you can remove the tag or ask the person who posted the photo to remove it altogether," the company said in a blog post.

"Please also note that the tag suggest feature is not available in every country, such as those in the EU. In response to your questions, we have provided more information in our Data Use Policy to make it clear that the tag suggest tool only applies to you if the feature is available where you live."

Facebook facial recognition software has long been controversial. It was turned on by default in 2011, meaning members had to opt out if they did not want to be part of the system.

The social network was then forced to switch off its facial recognition tool and delete data collected from European users in October 2012, following an investigation by privacy authorities in Ireland and Germany. Facial recognition is still disabled in Europe but the software is gaining traction in the US.

Commenting on other proposed changes to its data use policy, Facebook said that nothing has changed with regard to the way it uses people's names, profile pictures, content and information in connection with ads or commercial content.

The goal of the update was to clarify language, not to change policies or practices, it said. Just as before, users can limit who can see which pages they have 'liked' and commented on.

"We don’t share your private posts with others without your permission. When you post, you choose how to share and with whom, and we respect your choice. This has long been key to our terms and policies and has not changed as a result of this update."

telegraph.co.uk

Facebook changes privacy settings for teens

Facebook is relaxing its rules for teenagers. Recently Facebook said that teenagerss can share their posts publicly for the first time, but the default privacy setting for new users will limit their sharing to friends only. The also will be able to share photos, updates and comments with the general public on Facebook. That means strangers, and companies collecting data for advertisers and marketing companies, will be able to see select posts. Teenagers will also be able to turn on the Follow feature for their profiles, which would allow anyone they're not friends with to see their public posts in the main news feed.

Until now, Facebook said, teens aged 13 to 17 joining the service defaulted to being able to share information -- status updates, photos, videos, and the like -- with anybody in their extended network including friends and "friends of friends." But in a bid, perhaps, to assuage concerned parents, the giant social network is ratcheting the default for new users back to just "friends."

Note: To be sure, Facebook will allow those teens to change their privacy settings to anything they want. 

Other social networks such as Twitter, Tumblr and Last.fm don't prevent teens from posting publicly. However, if someone under 18 wanted to bypass the setting on Facebook before today, they could easily lie about their age when signing up for an account. Children under 13 are not officially allowed to sign up for a Facebook account, though they can skirt the rules in the same way. When someone underage does sign up for an account, Facebook assumes they have the permission of at least one guardian but does not verify it in any way.

Privacy, or the lack of privacy, has long been a touchy subject for Facebook. Users often bash the social network for its ever-changing and often complicated privacy settings. And despite the impression that teens are carefree with their online identities, a recent report showed that they are definitely concerned about their privacy on Facebook.