Latest news with #facialrecognition
SBS Australia
12 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Age verification trial proves under-16s social media ban is viable
Age verification trial proves under-16s social media ban is viable Published 20 June 2025, 8:38 am Early results from an Australian Government trial show it is technically possible to stop under-16s from accessing social media by using tools like facial recognition to verify age online. But experts warn there's still a long way to go before the planned teen social media ban comes into effect this December.
ABC News
15 hours ago
- Science
- ABC News
BTN Newsbreak 20/06/2025
AGE VERIFICATION SOFTWARE With the social media ban for Aussie teens kicking off in December, some people are worried about whether the age-checking tech for it isn't up to scratch. These students are just some of the thousands of teens across Australia who have been testing out facial scanning tech in the lead up to the social media ban which is all about protecting kids from accessing harmful content online. But so far the results been not that accurate. See from this December, more than 20 million Aussies will need to prove that they're over 16 years old if they want to log on to some of the big social media platforms. Which is why the government has been trialling out some age verification technology. See in recent trials, the tech could only guess people's ages within an 18 month range 85% of the time. While some experts say trialling this tech is a step in the right direction. Others say it's a sign that a flat out ban isn't great. But for now, there's still a bit of work that needs to be done. SPACEX EXPLOSION Things haven't exactly gone to plan in SpaceX's latest test launch. The spacecraft was preparing for its 10th test flight when it ran into a major anomaly, bit of an understatement. Don't worry, no one was inside the rocket, but eventually Space X's plan IS to have people in rockets like this one and send them to Mars by 2028. But they might have a few issues to overcome first. ANIMAL COMMUNICATION Have you ever wanted to talk to animals? Well a new competition is offering scientists 10 million dollars if they can do, well, just that. COW CUDDLES First up, to a farm in England that is offering visitors the chance to cuddle with a cow. This used to be a dairy farm, but due to crop shortages and the high cost of milk production, they decided to pivot to something a little different. It took more than a year to train the cows, getting them used to being cuddled, but now, they seem to really enjoy it. HIKING ROBOT Now to Mount Tai in China, which has welcomed its very first robotic hiking guide. This is its first time being tested out in the real world, after 2 months of development, and it seems to be handling everything pretty well so far. OLDEST MARRIED COUPLE And finally, to Newcastle where Delma, who's 100, and Frank, who's 101 are celebrating 80 years of wedded bliss, making them the oldest married couple in all of Australia!
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Privacy commissioner says smart vending machines went ‘over and above what you needed to sell snacks'
Ontario's privacy watchdog is sharing new insight on the investigation into the so-called smart vending machines that collected the personal data of users at the University of Waterloo. '[They] went over and above what you needed to sell snacks,' the privacy commissioner told CTV News. Those machines should have never been installed, she said, if the school had followed proper procedures. History of the case Students were alarmed last year when they saw an error message displayed on a machine in the Modern Languages building that read: ' – Application Error.' vending machine facial recognition A vending machine at University of Waterloo displays a facial recognition app error. (Reddit) They filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) in Feb. 2024, alleging the vending machines were using facial recognition technology to collect images without their consent. The ensuing investigation determined the university had signed an agreement with Adaria to provide, maintain, monitor and stock the vending machines in Oct. 2023. The University of Waterloo told the IPC that Adaria had purchased or leased the machines from candymaker MARS and MARS contracted another company, Invenda to build and supply the machines. smart intelligent vending machine uw university of waterloo Intelligent Vending Machine (IVM) at the University of Waterloo. (Colton Wiens/CTV News) The school insisted they were not aware they contained facial recognition technology, and the machines were removed from campus when they learned about the students' concerns. smart intelligent vending machine uw university of waterloo Intelligent Vending Machines (IVMs) after being removed from the University of Waterloo. (Source: UW) According to IPC's report, the vending machines recorded purchase and demographic data. 'There was no dispute that the IVMs [Intelligent Vending Machines] captured video images of individuals' faces on the university's campus,' the report read. 'However, the university argued that the resolution of the optical sensor in the IVMs was too low for the device to be considered a camera or create identifiable images of individuals.' The investigator noted the images were of 'photographic quality' but were only held for milliseconds before being converted into grayscale images and numeric descriptors. facial recognition An example of the photos taken by facial recognition software (left) and conversion into grayscale images (right). (Source: Canadian Legal Information Institute) 'Our investigation into this matter has found no evidence to suggest that personal information, beyond the initial temporary capture of facial images, was retained and further used by these vendors,' the report said. The IPC ruled the university violated the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as it failed to do its due diligence to identify potential risks. More from the investigation Ontario's privacy commissioner spoke exclusively with CTV News about the investigation. Patricia Kosseim said the 'over-collection' of personal information was concerning. 'There were other optional features that, to our knowledge, we did not find were turned on in this case,' she said. 'These machines could also detect student's moods, from very happy to very sad, and facial features like a beard or a mustache, or if somebody was wearing sunglasses or not.' vending machine facial recognition Fourth-year University of Waterloo student River Stanley explains where students have been trying to cover a hole on a vending machine that they believe houses a camera. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener) The University of Waterloo, the privacy commissioner added, was not the only school to use the vending machines. 'We've gotten a lot of emails from people that have seen them all over the province.' vending machine facial recognition Students believe there is a camera inside this hole on the vending machine. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener) For Kosseim, the problem started before the contract was signed for the smart vending machines. 'Had they had proper due diligence in the course of their procurement practice… they would have probably twigged onto the fact that there was technology behind them, smart technology, that should have prompted the university to conduct a privacy impact assessment and then, unpack all of these features which would have given them the choice, the option to say, 'No, you can't do this,'' she explained. 'Then they would have seen that there were quite significant risks and… either mitigated the risks by not turning on those features or maybe going with another vendor altogether and avoiding all these problems.' Public institutions in Ontario have limitations on what personal information they can collect. 'They can only do it for a lawfully authorized activity,' Kosseim said. 'Universities are allowed to have cafeteria services and vending machines and provide food for its students on campus, and to collect payment information to pay for those services. But they were not lawfully authorized to go beyond that and collect all this additional information, which was not necessary for the purpose of buying a can of Coke or a bag of chips. That's where the law really draws the line in Ontario for public institutions.' She said the IPC's investigation should serve as a warning to other schools. 'Despite the best intentions, and sometimes unbeknownst to the institution itself, there could be these technologies in the background, in the dark so to speak, which really undermine students' trust or public trust more generally,' Kosseim explained. 'One of our strong recommendations to the institution, the university, going forward was to follow that guidance in the future so that similar oversights won't happen again.' Changes to privacy rules The investigation by the IPC only focused on what the university should have done to avoid potential privacy problems. 'We did not investigate the vending machine manufacturer or the provider or supplier,' Kosseim said. 'Those commercial activities fall under the jurisdiction of the federal commission.' The IPC also does not have the ability to do anything more than provide recommendations. That will change, however, on July 1. 'I'll have the ability, the authority, to exchange information with my federal counterparts or, in fact, any of my provincial or territorial counterparts,' Kosseim explained, adding that the federal commission could then investigate commercial or third-party vendors. 'A joint investigation can come up with consistent findings and work together, which is good for the institution as well.' The privacy commissioner can also go beyond recommendations. 'There are provisions that will come into force that will allow my office to conduct investigations with quite extensive investigative powers,' said Kosseim. 'And the power to issue binding orders, including to order institutions to stop certain practices or to change their practice, or to modify [their practice].' Institutions will also be required to do more due diligence. 'They will have to conduct privacy impact assessments… before collecting personal information or before making significant changes, to the purpose for which they will use or disclose that personal information,' Kosseim said. '[They] have an obligation to notify the students in this case, or the public or citizens or users of government services, of these collection practices and of these technologies. So, there is a positive obligation on institutions to provide public notice of what they're doing and explain the information practice.' The smart vending machine investigation is one of the last she will participate in before the new rules go into effect. Kosseim also praised those who first raised privacy concerns, saying they should be 'proud' of their efforts in this case. 'I want to just highlight how fortunate we were that the students brought this issue to our attention,' she said. 'That kind of proactivity on the part of everyday Ontarians is really important, to stand up for the rights of everybody.' MARS, Invenda and Adaria did not respond to requests for comment from CTV News. - With reporting from Colton Wiens
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police officer's photographic memory helps him catch 3,000 suspects
Britain's most prolific 'super-spotter' police officer has caught his 3,000th suspect. PCSO Andy Pope is dubbed 'Memory Cop' by colleagues for his remarkable ability to remember faces. He has used his photographic memory to spot the faces of suspects from CCTV images years after he has seen them – even if they try to hide behind face coverings. Since 2012, he has been able to collar suspects for crimes including robbery, indecent exposure, sexual assault, and attempted murder, based on the tiniest facial details, from moles to the shape of a moustache. Officially described as a 'super recogniser,' Mr Pope, 47, says his skill is 'impossible to explain' but credits 'instinct' for usually being right. Some 2 per cent of the population have enhanced facial recognition abilities, according to research by Bournemouth University's Centre for Face Processing Disorders. Police forces are increasingly using such individuals with exceptional face recognition abilities to aid in criminal investigations. These officers are deployed in various settings to identify suspects, track offenders, and assist with investigations, particularly in crowded areas or when reviewing CCTV footage. The Metropolitan Police, Britain's biggest force, has some 140 officers who it has identified can be deployed as 'super recognisers'. Mr Pope's skill was honoured by the force's chief constable Dave Thompson in 2018 when he passed the 1,000 suspect milestone. He reached the 2,000-mark in 2020, recognising as many as 17 suspects in one day – and has now passed 3,000. He also became one of the first 20 people in the world to form part of the Super Recognisers Association in recognition for his eagle-eyed ability to remember faces. Before starting a shift, Mr Pope will often look through CCTV, video stills and police briefings to keep himself updated on people who are wanted. He said: 'I've made sure I'm fully updated on the images of people wanted by the force, and it's paid off. I've even been able to spot some in Birmingham city centre while they've been wearing face coverings. 'I have been asked many times how, but it's impossible to explain. It's just an instinct that is the person and thankfully it's proven right. 'The most important thing is being able to assist in catching criminals and keeping the public safe, especially given the year it has been.' The officer stores more faces year-on-year and averages one recognition every other shift. It has previously led him to identify a male robber he had seen an image of a year before and another by the mole on their face. Mr Pope added: 'If you look at a picture enough times, there is usually something that sticks in the mind as distinctive. 'Maybe I can't pinpoint what that something is at the time, but when I see the person in the flesh, it triggers that recognition.' His job for the force's Safer Travel Partnership requires him to travel around the region on public transport, with his skills used to assist other departments. His frequent travel also increases his chances of encountering suspects whose images he has seen on the police computer. He said: 'I feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction if I manage to remember a suspect from an image who is then arrested. Hopefully, there will be many more to come in future. 'I am just pleased I can contribute and hopefully there will be many more crime suspects I can spot in future.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police officer's photographic memory helps him catch 3,000 suspects
Britain's most prolific 'super-spotter' police officer has caught his 3,000th suspect. PCSO Andy Pope is dubbed 'Memory Cop' by colleagues for his remarkable ability to remember faces. He has used his photographic memory to spot the faces of suspects from CCTV images years after he has seen them – even if they try to hide behind face coverings. Since 2012, he has been able to collar suspects for crimes including robbery, indecent exposure, sexual assault, and attempted murder, based on the tiniest facial details, from moles to the shape of a moustache. Officially described as a 'super recogniser,' Mr Pope, 47, says his skill is 'impossible to explain' but credits 'instinct' for usually being right. Some 2 per cent of the population have enhanced facial recognition abilities, according to research by Bournemouth University's Centre for Face Processing Disorders. Police forces are increasingly using such individuals with exceptional face recognition abilities to aid in criminal investigations. These officers are deployed in various settings to identify suspects, track offenders, and assist with investigations, particularly in crowded areas or when reviewing CCTV footage. The Metropolitan Police, Britain's biggest force, has some 140 officers who it has identified can be deployed as 'super recognisers'. Mr Pope's skill was honoured by the force's chief constable Dave Thompson in 2018 when he passed the 1,000 suspect milestone. He reached the 2,000-mark in 2020, recognising as many as 17 suspects in one day – and has now passed 3,000. He also became one of the first 20 people in the world to form part of the Super Recognisers Association in recognition for his eagle-eyed ability to remember faces. Before starting a shift, Mr Pope will often look through CCTV, video stills and police briefings to keep himself updated on people who are wanted. He said: 'I've made sure I'm fully updated on the images of people wanted by the force, and it's paid off. I've even been able to spot some in Birmingham city centre while they've been wearing face coverings. 'I have been asked many times how, but it's impossible to explain. It's just an instinct that is the person and thankfully it's proven right. 'The most important thing is being able to assist in catching criminals and keeping the public safe, especially given the year it has been.' The officer stores more faces year-on-year and averages one recognition every other shift. It has previously led him to identify a male robber he had seen an image of a year before and another by the mole on their face. Mr Pope added: 'If you look at a picture enough times, there is usually something that sticks in the mind as distinctive. 'Maybe I can't pinpoint what that something is at the time, but when I see the person in the flesh, it triggers that recognition.' His job for the force's Safer Travel Partnership requires him to travel around the region on public transport, with his skills used to assist other departments. His frequent travel also increases his chances of encountering suspects whose images he has seen on the police computer. He said: 'I feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction if I manage to remember a suspect from an image who is then arrested. Hopefully, there will be many more to come in future. 'I am just pleased I can contribute and hopefully there will be many more crime suspects I can spot in future.'
