Germany Tells Facebook To Destroy Face Recognition Database

from the no-innovation-allowed dept

I've already noted that I don't understand the fuss over Facebook's facial recognition feature -- but plenty of people (including many of you) completely disagree. And, so do regulators in Germany, apparently. As they've suddenly re-opened their investigation of the feature (jumping on the bandwagon with Ireland and Norway) and told Facebook that it needs to destroy its database of faces collected in Germany, and change the system so that people have to opt-in, rather than opt-out.

Of course, I'm still wondering how this is different than existing tagged images. If my friend Joe "tags" me in an image, then Facebook already has that info. Is it that different if Facebook's system tagged me or if Joe tags me? Should Joe have to first get permission from me to identify me in a photo? That seems like a stretch.

Filed Under: face recognition, germany, privacy
Companies: facebook