PimEyes: Dangerous implications of reverse image searches

LONGWORTH: A WEBSITE CALLED PIMEYES ALLOWS USERS TO REVERSE IMAGE SEARCH FOR FACES, RAISING PRIVACY CONCERNS.

THE WEBSITE CRAWLS THE PUBLIC WEB AND INDEXES PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PHOTOS. USERS CAN UPLOAD A PHOTO OF SOMEONE AND PIMEYES WILL SEARCH FOR OTHER PHOTOS OF THAT PERSON ONLINE, ALONG WITH LINKS TO THE WEBSITES WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

PIMEYES CAN BE USED FOR LEGITIMATE PURPOSES, SUCH AS FINDING ATTRACTIVE STRANGERS, KEEPING TABS ON ONE’S DIGITAL PRESENCE, OR INVESTIGATING DATING APP MATCHES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS THAT THE SITE COULD BE USED FOR STALKING, SURVEILLANCE, OR TO IDENTIFY DISSIDENTS.

ANYONE CAN USE A BASIC VERSION OF PIMEYES, BUT PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS OFFER MORE SEARCHES AND ACCESS TO THE IMAGE SOURCES. USERS CAN OPT OUT SO THAT THEIR FACE ISN’T INCLUDED ON THE SITE, BUT SOME REPORT THAT THE FEATURE DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK.

PIMEYES SAYS IN A STATEMENT ON ITS SITE THAT IT “HAS NEVER BEEN AND IS NOT A TOOL TO ESTABLISH THE IDENTITY OR DETAILS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL,” AND “THE TARGET OF THE PIMEYES SEARCH ENGINE IS NOT INDIVIDUALS, BUT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES.”

THE COMPANY HAS SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MINIMIZE HARM, AND ITS CEO SAYS IT BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE SITE IN 27 COUNTRIES DUE TO CONCERNS THAT AUTHORITIES WILL TARGET PEOPLE THERE.

THIS KIND OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY IS CERTAINLY NOT NEW. BIG TECH COMPANIES HAVE HAD IT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO RELEASE IT TO THE PUBLIC, CITING CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY AND MISUSE.

BUT PIMEYES LAUNCHED FOR PUBLIC USE IN 2017. A COMPANY CALLED CLEARVIEW AI PROVIDES A SIMILAR SERVICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE ARE NO FEDERAL LAWS LIMITING THE USE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, THOUGH THERE ARE SOME IN STATES. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS THE AI ACT, WHICH WILL REGULATE HOW PEOPLE’S BIOMETRIC DATA CAN BE USED. BIOMETRIC DATA ENCOMPASSES THE PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT IDENTIFY A PERSON.