Technology that was once only seen in dystopian science fiction is rapidly infecting real life. Two means of collecting personal data – DNA databases and facial recognition software – are forming an unholy alliance, and the privacy implications could be devastating.
Privacy concerns surrounding DNA and facial recognition aren’t anything new. As the popularity of DNA genealogy websites like Ancestry DNA and 23andMe increase, so do questions over who has access to that data and how it will be used. The use of facial recognition and other biometric data technology is on the rise, and people are expressing concerns (and outrage) about that technology as well.
Recently, GEDmatch, which has more than 1 million genetic profiles in its database, decided to stop providing information to police without user permission. Last month, the site faced criticism when it allowed Utah police to use the database while investigating a violent assault. “Prior to the change, GEDmatch had allowed police to use its data only for rapes and homicides,” reports Bloomberg...
Now, DNA and facial recognition have merged, a development that is sure to ignite new concerns over privacy and how our most personal data is collected and used.
A team of engineers just built an algorithm that scans through a database of images and selects the faces that could be linked to the DNA found at a crime scene. Until now, predicting what someone’s face looks like based on a DNA sample has eluded scientists. But, it is getting easier for them to use samples to filter the right face from a database, as an international team led by researchers at KU Leuven has shown. Their findings were published in Nature Communications.
Our physical appearance (including our facial details) is hardwired into our genetic material. Scientists have already identified multiple genes that determine the shape of our face – from the distance between our nostrils to the shape of our chin. Some of that research was also conducted by a team at KU Leuven. Back in 2018, they identified fifteen genes that determine our facial features. In a related press release, the researchers explained the technique they used:
For forensic analysis and other applications, the ideal scenario would be to find a match between a DNA sample from a crime scene and someone in a DNA database. If the DNA doesn’t match anyone in the database, however, it could still be used to predict what the perpetrator’s face looks like and make a sketch. This sketch could then be compared to a database with the faces of known criminals...
For this technology to be useful, large face databases will be needed, such as ID card or driver’s license databases. Obviously, privacy issues are a huge concern. Claes acknowledges this fact. “Working with databases that contain private information such as DNA or faces requires strict supervision to prevent misuse,” he said.
By 2021, 97% of travelers will have their faces scanned. In some stores, “smart” refrigerators “analyze” your face and track your irises (but don’t worry – the company says they aren’t using true facial recognition). Amazon is developing software called Rekognition that can identify anything it’s looking at – including your face. Surveillance systems are insidious, sneaking into our lives at every turn.
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