(ROCHESTER, NY) A woman strolls into a grocery store, thinking about grabbing some apples. Before she even reaches the produce aisle, a security camera has scanned her face. Whether the system is checking for shoplifters or simply logging her arrival, her face has joined a digital ledger, a trace she can’t easily erase. Retailers, banks, airports, stadiums and office buildings are doing the same.
But what if the woman’s facial information is stolen or misused? If a cybercriminal steals her password, she can change it. If they acquire her credit card number, she can cancel the card. But she can’t reset or revoke the appearance of her cheekbones.
kAmu24:2= C64@8?:E:@? DJDE6>D 5@?’E <66A 24EF2= :>286D] %96J 4@?G6CE 2 7246 :?E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5:8:E2=D6?D6]2:^3=@8^9@H\5@6D\724:2=\C64@8?:E:@?\H@C<Qm>2E96>2E:42= E6>A=2E6k^2m E92E >2AD E96 A@D:E:@?D 2?5 AC@A@CE:@?D @7 E96 7246’D 762EFC6D] (96? 2?@E96C 42>6C2 D42?D 2 A6CD@? =2E6C[ E96 DJDE6> 4964<D E96:C =:G6 7246 282:?DE E96D6 E6>A=2E6D E@ 4@?7:C> 2? :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kAmx? >J H@C< 2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C:E]65F^5:C64E@CJ^;DH:4D\;@?2E92?\H6:DD>2?Qm4J36CD64FC:EJ AC@76DD@Ck^2m 2E #@496DE6C x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J[ x 92G6 7@F?5 E92E 6G6? E9@F89 E6>A=2E6D 2C6 >@C6 D64FC6 E92? A9@E@D – H9:49 2?J@?6 @?=:?6 42? 42AEFC6 2?5 >2?:AF=2E6 – E6>A=2E6D[ E@@[ 42? 36 DE@=6?] ~?46 E92E 92AA6?D[ E96D6 5:8:E2= <6JD 4C62E6 2 =:76=@?8 GF=?6C23:=:EJ] x7 2 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? 52E232D6 :D 3C624965[ E96 “=@4<D” E92E 2 E6>A=2E6 @A6?D – 2446DD:?8 2 32?< 2AA[ 86EE:?8 E9C@F89 D64FC:EJ 2E 2? 2:CA@CE[ 6?E6C:?8 2? @77:46 3F:=5:?8 – 42?’E 36 C6D6E] p A6CD@?’D 7246 :D A6C>2?6?E[ 2?5 D@ :D E96 E9C62E]k^Am
kAm%96 E9C62E :D?’E E96@C6E:42=] q:@>6EC:4 52E2 92D 366? DE@=6? :? 52E2 3C62496D] x? a_ac[ 3:@>6EC:4 52E2 7C@> 2 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? DJDE6> FD65 2E 32CD 2?5 4=F3D :? pFDEC2=:2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:C65]4@>^DE@CJ^@FE23@I\724:2=\C64@8?:E:@?\3C6249^QmH2D 924<65k^2m] p?5 :? a_`h[ 3:@>6EC:4 52E2 7C@> 2 A:=@E 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? DJDE6> D6E FA 3J &]$] rFDE@>D 2?5 q@C56C !C@E64E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@:8]59D]8@G^C6A@CED^a_a_^C6G:6H\43AD\>2;@C\4J36CD64FC:EJ\:?4:56?E\5FC:?8\a_`h\3:@>6EC:4\A:=@E^@:8\a_\f`\D6Aa_QmH2D 3C624965k^2m :? 2? 2EE24< @? 2 DF34@?EC24E@C’D ?6EH@C<] xE’D ?@E 4=62C H96E96C 2?J@?6’D DE@=6? 3:@>6EC:4 52E2 92D 366? 6IA=@:E65[ 9@H6G6C]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ2 D2?5H:493@2C5 D:8? @FED:56 2 DE25:F>Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fb`ff_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_caa\df\bHeGI<];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mr2E49:?8 2 32==82>6n $64FC:EJ 42>6C2D >:89E 36 42E49:?8 2?5 5:8:E:K:?8 J@FC 7246] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HDC@@>]2A]@C8^56E2:=^!9:==:6Du246#64@8?:E:@?t?ECJq2D632==^g56f54`46ag4cg77h33236`32264`h2g^A9@E@Qmp! !9@E@^|2EE $=@4F>k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am%C24<:?8 J@FC 7246k^9am
kAmp== 3:@>6EC:4 :56?E:7:6CD 42CCJ C:D<D] u:?86CAC:?ED 2?5 :C:D D42?D[ 9@H6G6C[ 2C6 EJA:42==J FD65 :? 4@?EC@==65 D:EF2E:@?D[ DF49 2D F?=@4<:?8 2 A6CD@?’D A9@?6 @C 2==@H:?8 D@>6@?6 E@ 6?E6C 2 3F:=5:?8] x? E96D6 42D6D[ 2 A6CD@? 92D E@ 56=:36C2E6=J =@@< 2E 2 D42??6C] r2>6C2D :? AF3=:4 DA246D[ :? 4@?EC2DE[ 42? 42AEFC6 7246D 2D A6@A=6 H2=< 3J[ 7C@> 2 5:DE2?46 2?5 H:E9@FE E96 A6@A=6 H9@D6 7246D 2C6 D42??65 C62=:K:?8 :E]k^Am
kAmx7 2 7:?86CAC:?E @C :C:D 52E232D6 :D 3C624965[ 2 E9:67 DE:== ?665D E@ A9JD:42==J AC6D6?E E92E 7:?86C @C 6J6[ @C 2 72<6 @7 :E[ E@ 2 D42??6C] w@H6G6C[ D@>6@?6 4@F=5 >2E49 2 DE@=6? 724:2= E6>A=2E6 282:?DE :>286D 7C@> DFCG6:==2?46 42>6C2D @C A9@E@D 4:C4F=2E:?8 @?=:?6[ >2<:?8 :E 62D:6C E@ :56?E:7J 2 A6CD@? @7 :?E6C6DE @C EC24< D@>6@?6’D >@G6>6?ED 2?5 24E:G:E:6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6’D 2=D@ 2 3:8 5:776C6?46[ E649?:42==J 2?5 6E9:42==J[ 36EH66? <66A:?8 2 7246 @? 2 A9@?6 G6CDFD 92?5:?8 :E @G6C E@ 2 52E232D6] ~? >@56C? pAA=6 56G:46D 2?5 >2?J p?5C@:5 DJDE6>D[ 3:@>6EC:4 52E2 FD65 E@ F?=@4< E96 56G:46D :D DE@C65 =@42==J :? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DFAA@CE]2AA=6]4@>^8F:56^D64FC:EJ^E96\D64FC6\6?4=2G6\D64dh3_3b`77^H63Qm565:42E65 92C5H2C6 49:Ak^2m 2?5 :D ?@E D92C65 H:E9 E96 >2?F724EFC6C @C 4=@F5 D6CG:46D 7@C 2FE96?E:42E:@?] pD 2 C6DF=E[ 2 3C6249 @7 4@CA@C2E6 @C 4=@F5 DJDE6>D H@F=5 ?@E 6IA@D6 E96D6 56G:46\=6G6= 3:@>6EC:4 E6>A=2E6D]k^Am
kAm$@>6 DEC66E 2?5 D64FC:EJ 42>6C2D :? AF3=:4 2C6 A2DD:G6[ ;FDE H2E49:?8 2D A6@A=6 A2DD 3J[ H:E9 ?@ =@?8\E6C> C64@C5D] qFE @E96CD >2J 36 7@==@H:?8 A6@A=6’D DE6AD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]4@DC6G]a_ad]`__fgdQm=:?<:?8 7246D E@ 52E232D6Dk^2m 2?5 4C62E:?8 2 A6CD:DE6?E 5:8:E2= EC2:=] %96 C:D< C:D6D H96? @C82?:K2E:@?D FD6 DJDE6>D E@ EC24< A2CE:4F=2C A6@A=6 24C@DD >F=E:A=6 52E232D6D] p:CA@CE DJDE6>D 4@F=5 4@>A2C6 2 EC2G6=6C’D 7246 282:?DE A2DDA@CE @C 2:C=:?6 52E232D6D] $E25:F>D >2J 4@>A2C6 7246D 282:?DE =@42= D64FC:EJ H2E49 =:DED @C =2H 6?7@C46>6?E =:DED] %96 4@>A2?J E92E >2?286D |25:D@? $BF2C6 v2C56? 92D FD65 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:C65]4@>^DE@CJ^>25:D@?\DBF2C6\82C56?\;:>\5@=2?\DFCG6:==2?46\>249:?6^QmE@ 32C 6?ECJk^2m E@ =2HJ6CD 2E 7:C>D E92E C6AC6D6?E65 A6@A=6 H9@ DF65 E96 4@>A2?J]k^Am
kAm$@>6 =2C86 C6E2:= 492:?D[ DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^46?EC2=4FCC6?E]@C8^H68>2?D\25565\724:2=\C64@8?:E:@?\E649?@=@8J\E@\?J4\DE@C6D\H@?E\D2J\:7\:E\A=2?D\E96\D2>6\7@C\46?EC2=\?6H\J@C<\DE@C6D^Qm(68>2?Dk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]3=@@>36C8=2H]4@>^AC:G24J\2?5\52E2\D64FC:EJ^D9@AA6CD\9:E\E2C86E\H:E9\AC:G24J\DF:E\@G6C\724:2=\C64@8?:E:@?Qm%2C86Ek^2m[ 2=D@ FD6 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? DJDE6>D :? E96:C E967E AC6G6?E:@? 677@CED] tG6CJ ?6H 42AEFC6 255D 2?@E96C A6C>2?6?E C64@C5]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ!6@A=6 9@=5 D>2== 42C53@2C5 :>286D @7 p>2K@? rt~ y677 q6K@D :? 7C@?E @7 E96:C 7246D]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fah_fc^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_c_h\df\`76IIE];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?ms6>@?DEC2E@CD 9@=5 :>286D @7 p>2K@? rt~ y677 q6K@D :? 7C@?E @7 E96:C 7246D 5FC:?8 2 AC@E6DE @G6C E96 4@>A2?J’D 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? DJDE6>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HDC@@>]2A]@C8^56E2:=^u24:2=#64@8?:E:@?q24<=2D9^275`gd7`4f54cg2c3`c`g5he3_hbfga5^A9@E@Qmp! !9@E@^t=2:?6 %9@>AD@?k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm|2?J 4@>A2?:6D 5@ ?@E 92G6 6IA6CE:D6 :? 4J36CD64FC:EJ 2?5 C6=J @? E9:C5\A2CEJ G6?5@CD E@ >2?286 E96:C 52E2] x7 E9@D6 46?EC2=:K65 DJDE6>D 2C6 3C624965 – @C E96 52E2D6ED 2C6 =:?<65 24C@DD A=2E7@C>D[ G6?5@CD @C 52E2 3C@<6CD – J@FC 7246 42? 364@>6 2 D@CE @7 A6CD:DE6?E :56?E:7:6C[ H9:49 42? 36 FD65 E@ 6IA@D6 @C EC24< J@F] x? D@>6 42D6D[ H96? 4@>3:?65 H:E9 @E96C 4@>AC@>:D65 52E2[ J@FC 42AEFC65 7246 42? =@H6C E96 32CC:6C E@ :>A6CD@?2E:?8 J@F]k^Am
k9am(96? 2 A6CD@?’D 7246 >66ED E96:C 52E2k^9am
kAmp 7246 42? 7F?4E:@? =:<6 2 “AC:>2CJ <6J” – 2 F?:BF6 2?5 DE23=6 :56?E:7:6C E92E 4@??64ED C64@C5D] x7 @?6 52E232D6 =:?<D 2 724:2= E6>A=2E6 E@ 2? 6>2:= 255C6DD[ 2?5 2 52E2 3C6249 4@??64ED E92E 6>2:= E@ 7:?2?4:2= @C A6CD@?2= C64@C5D[ 2? :56?E:EJ E9:67 H:E9 2 DE@=6? E6>A=2E6 4@F=5 2446DD 2== E92E :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am
kAmp?5 4@>3:?:?8 2 E6>A=2E6 H:E9 px E@@=D DF49 2D 566A72<6D @C E9C66\5:>6?D:@?2= 7246 >@56=D 4@F=5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ 2==@H 2 4C:>:?2= E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?E6C?2E:@?2=D64FC:EJ;@FC?2=]4@>^9@H\566A72<6D\2C6\3JA2DD:?8\A9JD:42=\D64FC:EJ\DJDE6>D^Qm:>A6CD@?2E6 2? :?5:G:5F2=k^2m :? DJDE6>D E92E C6BF:C6 AC@@7 @7 2 =:G6 7246[ D=:AA:?8 :?E@ 2 7@C865 5:8:E2= :56?E:EJ =:<6 D=:AA:?8 :?E@ 2 4@DEF>6]k^Am
kAm(96? 4C:>:?2=D 4@>3:?6 3:@>6EC:4 E6>A=2E6D H:E9 @E96C =62<65 52E2[ DF49 2D =@8:?D 7@C D@4:2= >65:2 AC@7:=6D @C 9@>6 255C6DD6D[ E96J 42? 3F:=5 “DFA6C\AC@7:=6D” 4@??64E65 E@ >2?J @7 2 A6CD@?’D 24E:G:E:6D] q642FD6 E96 7246 24ED 2D 2 A6C>2?6?E =:?<:?8 <6J[ E9:D =6G6= @7 :56?E:EJ E967E :D 5:77:4F=E E@ C6G6CD6]k^Am
k9amw@H E@ >:?:>:K6 E96 E9C62Ek^9am
kAm!6@A=6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<6J=6DD]:@^3=@8^A@DE^AC:G24J\2?5\4@>A=:2?46\:?\a_ae\H9J\3:@>6EC:4\2FE96?E:42E:@?\H:==\492?86QmDE:== 7:8FC:?8 @FEk^2m 9@H E@ =:G6 H:E9 H:56DAC625 3:@>6EC:4 4@==64E:@?] %96 4@?G6?:6?46 @7 D>@@E9=J A2DD:?8 D64FC:EJ 4964<D @C >2<:?8 AFC492D6D :D 2AA62=:?8[ 3FE :E @7E6? 4@>6D H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>4D92?63C25J=2H]4@>^H92E\H:==\52E2\3C62496D\=@@<\=:<6\:?\a_ae^Qm2 A6C>2?6?E C:D<k^2m E@ AC:G24J 2?5 D64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAm%@ =6DD6? E96 E9C62E[ @C82?:K2E:@?D 42? 7@==@H D6G6C2= 52E2 AC:G24J 36DE AC24E:46D] %96J 42? <66A @?=J :?7@C>2E:@? E92E :D ?646DD2CJ[ 6C2D6 E96 C6DE BF:4<=J 2?5 6?4CJAE 6G6CJ >2E96>2E:42= E6>A=2E6] %96J 42? DE@C6 @?=J 6?4CJAE65 E6>A=2E6D C2E96C E92? C2H A9@E@D] %96J 42? FD6 D2768F2C5:?8 E649?:BF6D[ DF49 2D E96 =2E6DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]:>2G:D]a_`h]``]__cQm=:G6?6DD 56E64E:@?k^2m E649?:BF6D[ E@ 96=A 6?DFC6 E92E E96:C DJDE6>D 2C6 :?E6C24E:?8 H:E9 C62= A6@A=6 C2E96C E92? A9@E@8C2A9D[ >2D<D @C 566A72<6D] p?5 E96J 42? 25@AE 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:8:E2=AC:G24J]:666]@C8^AF3=:42E:@?D^E@A:4D^H92E\:D\AC:G24J\3J\56D:8?\2?5\H9J\:E\D\:>A@CE2?E^QmAC:G24J\3J\56D:8?k^2m 2AAC@249[ H9:49 >62?D E96J H:== <66A 52E2 @?=J 2D =@?8 2D ?646DD2CJ[ 4=62C=J 5@4F>6?E 9@H :E’D FD65 2?5 C6DEC:4E H9@ 92D 2446DD]k^Am
kAmr@?DF>6CD 42? E2<6 DE6AD 2D H6==] x? A=246D H:E9 AC:G24J =2HD[ DF49 2D r2=:7@C?:2[ x==:?@:D 2?5 E96 tFC@A62? &?:@?[ A6@A=6 42? DF3>:E 2 52E2 2446DD C6BF6DE E@ D66 H92E 3:@>6EC:4 52E2 2 4@>A2?J 9@=5D 2?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ 2D< 7@C :ED 56=6E:@?] %96J 42? 2=D@ 2D< C6E2:=6CD 2?JH96C6 H92E 52E2 :D 4@==64E65[ 9@H =@?8 :E :D <6AE 2?5 9@H :E’D AC@E64E65]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^;@?2E92?\D\H6:DD>2?\aea_hhenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQmy@?2E92? $] (6:DD>2?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^C@496DE6C\:?DE:EFE6\@7\E649?@=@8J\`bfhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQm#@496DE6C x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8Jk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^8@G6C?>6?E\286?4:6D\2C6\E2AA:?8\2\724:2=\C64@8?:E:@?\4@>A2?J\E@\AC@G6\J@FC6\J@F\96C6D\H9J\E92E\C2:D6D\4@?46C?D\23@FE\AC:G24J\244FC24J\2?5\72:C?6DD\`fdg`fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQmv@G6C?>6?E 286?4:6D 2C6 E2AA:?8 2 724:2= C64@8?:E:@? 4@>A2?J E@ AC@G6 J@F’C6 J@F – 96C6’D H9J E92E C2:D6D 4@?46C?D 23@FE AC:G24J[ 244FC24J 2?5 72:C?6DDk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\:46D\3@5J\42>6C2\A@=:4:6D\>2<6\E96\G:56@D\F?=:<6=J\E@\:>AC@G6\244@F?E23:=:EJ\2?5\EC2?DA2C6?4J\afdb_anFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQm(9J xrt’D 3@5J 42>6C2 A@=:4:6D >2<6 E96 G:56@D F?=:<6=J E@ :>AC@G6 244@F?E23:=:EJ 2?5 EC2?DA2C6?4Jk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H92E\A9:=256=A9:2?D\?665\E@\<?@H\23@FE\E96\4:EJD\f\___\42>6C2\DFCG6:==2?46\DJDE6>\ab__fbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgaghQm(92E !9:=256=A9:2?D ?665 E@ <?@H 23@FE E96 4:EJ’D f[___‑42>6C2 DFCG6:==2?46 DJDE6>k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?my@?2E92? $] (6:DD>2? 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afgagh^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.