SCP-New York on Tue, 25 Sep 2001 23:26:49 +0200 (CEST)


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<nettime> face recognition software/11 September 2001


Statement about Viisage (makers of face recognition software)
by the New York Surveillance Camera Players, dated 23 September 2001
http://www.notbored.org/viisage.html


There are two companies in America that specialize in the development of
face recognition software, which is used to enhance the performance of
video surveillance cameras: Visionics, based in Jersey City, New Jersey,
and Viisage, based in Littleton, Massachusetts. Both companies have seen
their stock prices soar (double or even triple in value) in the aftermath
of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, and it is
tempting to lump them together as "bad guys." But there seem to be
important differences between the two companies. Perhaps we -- steadfast
opponents of the use of their software products in any and all public
places -- can turn these differences to our advantage.

Visionics seems to be run by people who are more interested in Science
than Profit. As a result, Visionics hasn't allowed its software to be used
in a surreptitious fashion (so far as the general public knows). For
example, the residents of Ybor City -- a neighborhood in Tampa Bay,
Florida -- have known from the beginning that the local police are using
Visionics' software on a trial basis to enhance the city's surveillance
cameras. The project is a very controversial one, and has triggered
condemnations from the Law Enforcement Alliance of America and the
American Civil Liberties Union. Significantly, Visionics responded to the
contrversy by calling upon the United States Congress to produce
legislation that covers the use of its software. Visionics seems to like
transparency.

The people at Viisage seem impatient to start making big bucks from their
product. As a result, they've allowed their software to be used in secret,
as it was at the January 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. Though company
president Tom Colatosti stated in July 2001 that "I believe it [use of the
software in public places] is intrusive, and bad public policy," Viisage
has expressed no interest whatsoever in having the federal government
regulate the use of its software. Viisage seems to believe that it can
regulate its opaque affairs on its own.

The differences between the two companies have become even clearer in the
aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Visionics CEO
Michael Attick has (it seems) been careful to avoid appearing as if he is
exploiting the disaster to make a profit, and has even reaffirmed the
necessity of Federal regulation of the use of his company's software. "We
really have to protect the privacy of the innocent majority," Atick was
reported to have said on 24 September 2001. "We're not going to walk away
from the privacy issues we've previously raised."

Contrast this position with that of Viisage CEO Tom Colatosti, who stated
in one post-attack interview: "This [face recognition software] could have
had a profound difference. It's clear that some of these suspects were in
the FBI database. What has us frustrated is that we allowed ourselves to
be intimidated by some of this privacy silliness. I carry guilt for not
being able to make that point better." What a change of attitude! In other
words, back in July 2001, Colatosti didn't really believe that the use of
his software in public was "intrusive, and bad public policy." That was
just privacy silliness, to which he had to pay a certain amount of
lip-service because public opinion at the time was strongly against what's
going on in Tampa Bay. But now that public opinion has changed (or so we
are told), Colatosti can stop worrying about respecting the Fourth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and start saying what he thinks people
want to hear right now.

Perhaps to assuage Colatosti's no doubt completely genuine feelings of
guilt, Viisage released the following press release:

<press release>

       Viisage Technology Offers FBI Free Use of Face Recognition
Technology to Aid Investigation

       LITTLETON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2001--Viisage
Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VISG - news), the leader in face-recognition
technology and identification systems and solutions that improve security
and conveniently protect personal privacy, announced that it has offered
the FBI free use of Viisage's face-recognition technology to aid in the
apprehension or identification of the persons responsible for the
terrorism in New York City and Washington.

       This offer was made in writing to the FBI and was disclosed on a
CNET news interview Friday by Viisage President and CEO, Tom Colatosti.

       "It is clear that the use of face-recognition technology can make a
real difference in identifying terrorists. Our technology was used with
great success at Super Bowl XXXV, where the security concerns were
similar," said Mr. Colatosti.

       He went on to say, "We are facing a national tragedy, unlike
anything America has ever endured - our prayers and sympathies go out to
all the families and friends of all the innocent victims. While there is
now much interest in our technology, we in no way want to profit off the
pain and death of our fellow Americans. While so many are so generously
giving so much - thousands of relief volunteers working tirelessly around
the clock, ordinary citizens donating food and blood, and Corporations
giving financial gifts, we want to give what we are able to uniquely
contribute."

       Viisage Technology is the world leader in biometric
face-recognition technology and identification systems and solutions that
enhance consumer convenience, improve security and protect personal
privacy. Originally developed at MIT, Viisage's patented, accurate,
non-intrusive and cost-effective face-recognition technology is widely
acknowledged for its unmatched performance including speed in real-time
applications, scalability for managing large image databases, and systems
integration for complete customer solutions.

       Viisage provides a full family of face recognition products.
FaceEXPLORER(TM) is a powerful and scalable image retrieval and analysis
database product, used to combat identity fraud -- it is implemented in
the world's largest face recognition system with more than eight million
enrolled images. FaceFINDER(TM), acclaimed for its processing speed, is
the industry's most widely implemented surveillance and identification
system -- it is installed in more than 80 casinos worldwide and has been
deployed to improve security at premier sporting events. FaceNET(TM)
provides secure authentication for PC, Internet and e-commerce
connections. FacePIN(TM) offers consumers convenient and private
verification for point-of-sale transactions such as ATMs. FacePASS(TM) is
a practical security solution for keyless entry to secure facilities, such
as offices, dormitories and government facilities. FaceTOOLS(TM) is a
leadership Software Developers Kit that enables application providers the
ability to develop and customize unique customer and market applications.


<end press release>

For a statement released just six days after "a national tragedy, unlike
anything America has ever endured," this press release is very badly
written. It contains far too much about Viisage and its products, and far
too little about the tragedy and the investigation into it. Viisage is
clearly trying to exploit the disaster, despite Colatosti's declaration
that "we in no way want to profit off the pain and death of our fellow
Americans." He obviously knows that good publicity -- especially at a time
like this -- can be even more profitable to his company than big booms in
sales and stock prices. If Colatosti were really serious about giving to
the truly needy without expecting a return, he'd donate money, just like
the other "generous" corporations!

As for Colatosti's claim that "our technology was used with great success
at Super Bowl XXXV, where the security concerns were similar," one can't
help wonder if the man knows what he's saying. Not a single terrorist was
identified by the computer-enmhanced surveillance cameras at the Super
Bowl! Indeed, the only "criminals" identified in the huge crowd were a few
measely ticket scalpers, who obviously tend to frequent such events. Such
meagre results clearly do not justify the use of a system that violated
the privacy and public assembly rights of 71,000 law-abiding people. One
can also say with equal certainty that computer-assisted surveillance
cameras -- no matter how many of them are installed in American cities --
will do nothing to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States. No
one knows the identity of the terrorist (not to mention have a good
photograph of his or her face) until the attack has been carried out. And
by then it's too late.

[Note: the New York Surveillance Camera Players were the first group in
America to protest in public against face recognition software. See
http://www.notbored.org/15oct00.html for an account on their 15 Oct 2000
protest.]







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