Photo (c) The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe has a story about facial recognition gone awry.
A software program designed to prevent fraud by identifying similar license photographs, and thereby identifying people with multiple identies in the licensing system, falsely identified John Gass as having a photo similar to another driver, and as a result his license was revoked. Gass, who drives for his job, had to spend 10 days wrangling with the Registry of Motor Vehicles before he could get the issue cleared up.
State Registrar Rachel Kaprielian was unrepentant about the error:
Kaprielian said the Registry gives drivers enough time to respond to the suspension letters and that it is the individual’s “burden’’ to clear up any confusion. She added that protecting the public far outweighs any inconvenience Gass or anyone else might experience.
“A driver’s license is not a matter of civil rights. It’s not a right. It’s a privilege,’’ she said. “Yes, it is an inconvenience [to have to clear your name], but lots of people have their identities stolen, and that’s an inconvenience, too.’’
This is a great example about how security technology such as facial recognition software has the potential to be abused by government officials who fail to understand the complexities and intricacies of its limitations. With police pushing to use facial recognition software in the field, issues such as Gass' are likely to increase.
