Creepy new Google Glass app can identify whoever you’re looking at

[onehandle]

We’ve seen our fair share of creepy apps, but this one probably takes the cake. It’s called NameTag, and in Robocop-like fashion, the app can scan a person’s face and compare it to a records database consisting of millions of people.

If NameTag successfully finds that person, it spits back tons of information about them, including their full name, their relationship status, what school they went to, their current occupation, their interests, and more. It’ll even tell you if that person has a criminal record.

It does all of this by searching various online social networking profiles for that person and pulling details from the profiles they may have filled out. It also pulls information from public records database, such as online court records in your city and state.

Upon gathering these details, they upload them to FacialNetwork.com‘s database without your permission. Don’t want your information made available? NameTag gives you the ability to opt-out, though we’d contend that something like this should be strictly opt-in.

http://phandroid.com/2014/02/05/nametag-google-glass-app

[suffragette]

1. Yikes, so to not be in their database, you'd have to sign up with whoever the hell

They are and opt out and then trust that they wouldn't use whatever info you would provide to identify yourself to them to opt out fr other purposes.
Really, really sick of the system being allowed to operate this way.
We need a law specifying that anything like this (as well as all the other invasive data gathering, sharing, etc done by companies) be opt in only.

[RobertEarl]

2. Opt out? Ha

You go asking for them to ignore you and they are gonna wonder why you want to be ignored and make a 'special' file for you.

Heck, we've seen a few DUers that have made special files for other DUers.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. You know too much about other DUers.

You just made my list.

[RobertEarl]

9. I've been here awhile

You are not the first DUer I've had notice me. Even changed my name but they came looking. Nothing better for them to do, I guess. Hope you have better things to do.

Point is, if even on just little ol' DU there are those who follow others around and making up their lists, one can just imagine out there in the real world what people would do for a bloody nickle, eh? Be careful.

[jsr]

4. Creeps, crooks, voyeurs, nosy assholes.

Last edited Thu Feb 6, 2014, 12:27 AM - Edit history (1)

[Major Nikon]

5. Kinda makes the government keeping record of who you called pale by comparison

Anyone who worries about the government figuring out who you are calling should worry a lot more about private companies that will find far more nefarious ways to use your personal data.

[NCTraveler]

35. Details of who I call are not public.

It is a part of my account with Verizon. I have to log on to see my own records in this aspect. The government is collecting information that many believe to be private. Google is pulling up public information. Information the individual has put out there themselves. This isn't even comparable to the government being able to access my private information without probable cause.

[Major Nikon]

37. Actually most of the information that the government is collecting is going out over the wire

And the information you think is private is nonetheless given to non-governmental entities that are free to do with that information they want so long as it doesn't violate the agreement you have which protects their interests far more than it does yours. The bottom line is that information that people think is private or at least somewhat private is really not all that private and the idea that people wont find innovative ways to use that information is not a good one. This is true whether those people are inside or outside the government. Personally I have more concern over non-governmental entities because they are accountable to no one other than their stockholders, if even them.

[PADemD]

6. What about twins?

[Brigid]

7. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

If this technology is used by a stalker or a rapist or some other violent criminal, this company could be liable.

[Skittles]

10. no

because it's all public record or information idiots voluntarily gave up by using crap like facebook

[OilemFirchen]

15. Wrong.

Anyone with a phone number has an internet presence - even if they've never used a computer. For a handful of bucks, an interested party can get tons of info from that little bit of data. So the guy sitting next to you at a bar can obtain your address, DOB, employment info, et al. in a flash. And that doesn't account for the dude with a hacker app, who can literally read you like a book - SSN, bank account, passport... you name it.

[snooper2]

24. anyone with a phone number has an internet presense- LOL really?

When the hell did Intrado put the ALI database on the World Wide Web?


wish somebody would have told me

[OilemFirchen]

31. Seriously?

What the hell does Intrado have to do with it? That info is courtesy of your service provider. Unless, of course, you've set up a private exchange...

[Duer 157099]

17. What if someone else posts info about you on Facebook?

I don't even use that shit, but what if a friend or family member does and takes photos of you and puts it up with your name? Suddenly, there you are. Without doing anything.

[Skittles]

18. especially if they add, "Duer 157099 enjoys scrapbooking and Etsy"

[randome]

27. Then you have some strange acquaintances.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Duer 157099]

41. A family member posts a photo of me

and that is strange? All it takes is one photo with a name. Data mining connects the rest of the dots.

I was not suggesting that all the info be posted on Facebook, just the FACE, which actually is the point of the OP. Facial recognition. Once that is out there, all the rest can be easily put together.

[Sissyk]

48. I don't facebook.

None of my immediate family uses facebook.

Every friend and family member knows we do not want pictures of us on any of their facebook pages. Not even if our names are not used.

They respect our decision and nothing is posted anywhere by our family and friends. It can be done without pissing them off.

[Renew Deal]

8. It was a matter of time

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Ugh.

[Matariki]

12. I think a personal size can of spray paint would solve the google glasses problem.

key chain size, like pepper spray.

[MADem]

13. Camouflage make-up will be all the rage in only a matter of time...! nt

[stevenleser]

20. Next version coming out will look like normal glasses. You'll have to spray everyone with glasses.nt

[phantom power]

21. and the version after that will be an optical implant

[Generic Other]

45. Google glasshole meets Travis Bickle

Be vocal:

[VanillaRhapsody]

14. Well that will be handy for those folks with the Facial Recognition deficiency!

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. Am I the only one who thinks that's kind of awesome? N.T.

[phantom power]

22. like a lot of tech, its kind of awesome, kind of creepy and totally inevitable

[randome]

28. That's it in a nutshell!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]No squirrels were harmed in the making of this post. Yet.[/center][/font][hr]

[Brigid]

29. Not inevitable.

We can fight back against this dangerous invasion of privacy. We can protest, we can boycott, and we can sue the crap out of this company the first time this is used to harm someone. And it will be.

[Xithras]

38. No, you're not. It's awesome from a technical standpoint.

This particular technology is an inevitability and has been discussed in fiction for decades, and for years in modern technical discussions. The fact that someone has pulled this off, that the technology can recognize someone at a glance and pull up their information so you don't have to remember it, is an incredible technical feat.

There are unquestionably some social implications that need to be addressed though. The technology is there, but a lot of people aren't ready for this kind of information society yet. The technology may be ready before the people are.

[JoeyT]

19. Reason #3084 it should be considered

a public service instead of assault to slap someone wearing the thing.

[JJChambers]

23. This has great potential for law enforcement

Wanted persons and fugitives will be significantly easier to identify and apprehend.

[enlightenment]

30. Well now - that justs takes average

intrusive creepiness to a whole new authoritarian level.

ick.

[JJChambers]

32. Explain...

Why should wanted people and fugitives be able to easily avoid detection, identification and apprehension?

[Brigid]

33. Explain . . .

Why innocent people should be put in danger by these devices.

[JJChambers]

34. What danger?? (Nt)

[Brigid]

36. Stalkers, rapists, and other violent criminals.

Isn't it obvious?

[JJChambers]

43. No it isn't obvious

Wouldn't a stalker already know their target, without the need for google glass? And what benefit would rapists and violent criminals gain? I could actually see google glass being a MAJOR deterrent to violent crime and stranger rape: the criminals will never know who is recording (once the devices become unobtrusive).

[enlightenment]

44. It's very Big Brother -

and if I have to explain why, I suspect you wouldn't accept the explanation.

[Vashta Nerada]

25. Awesome and creepy at the same time.

[tabbycat31]

26. and people wonder why my profile pic is a cat

[sakabatou]

39. Can I have a version which gives me a name only?

That would help me.

[onehandle]

40. Me too, actually. I'm terrible with names.

I might be starting a new job soon where I will have to get to know 40 or 50 people.

Names are the hardest part.

[hunter]

42. Philip K. Dick, "A Scanner Darkly"

Put on your suit.

[seabeyond]

46. and of course they promote it for the men, looking at young women, in a stalker like manner.

nah.... no conditioning here boys.

no abuse.

[CFLDem]

47. Cool stuff right there.

And yes, definitely inevitable.

Why? Because we can.

[arely staircase]

49. great gift for the psycho stalker in your family nt