Facial recognition ethics and online harms
No. 14: Bringing you the news that matters in video privacy and security
A note from our Editor
Hi all,
This week's articles focus on a range of important surveillance topics including the monitoring of home workers, defining facial recognition methods, and understanding the extent of online harms and their impact on children.
There are a range of ethical questions being raised: one of the world's largest call-centres is starting to monitor employees in their homes, whilst China is developing requirements for ethnic-tracking methods alongside facial recognition.
The NSPCC has identified Facebook owned apps are one of the main platforms used to commit online child sex crimes. There is a growing movement to drive better and more specific privacy measures across all online platforms for child safety.
Australia's leading TV channels and Parliament sites have been hit by a significant cyber attack, with potential that it could reach further.
Don't forget to scroll down to the Policy Updates article, which helps with some top tips of how to comply with the UK GDPR.
As always, please let me know if you have any feedback on this newsletter or want to see any other topics covered.
Emma
News
China using surveillance firms to identify facial recognition standards
China has turned to surveillance firms to help create standards for mass recognition systems, but there is a worryingly large emphasis on tracking ethnic characteristics - including eyebrow size, skin colour and ethnicity. The standards are driving the way surveillance networks are being built across the country.
Cyber attack on Australian TV channel and Parliament
Australian Channel Nine's live broadcasts from Sydney were cut short, at the same time as Parliament House's email system was taken offline due to a cyber attack. Investigations are being conducted as to how widespread the attack is and whether they are linked.
Irish Data Protection Commission accused of bureaucracy and lethargy
The Data Protection Commission in Ireland is the most highly regarded data watchdog in the world, but many have criticised, including Max Schrems, their ability to meet expectations when it comes to properly enforcing regulations. Can they keep up the need to update regulation and simultaneously enforce breaches of GDPR?
Facebook owned apps responsible for half of online child sex crimes
According to data from the NSPCC, more than half of online child sex crimes are committed via Facebook-owned apps. Despite Facebook's plans to create end-to-end encrypted messaging services across all their applications, the NSPCC argues that they will leave children at a greater risk, as it could mean that crimes go unreported if proper safeguards are not put in place.
Call centre staff under scrutiny from strict WFH monitoring
Teleperformance - one of the world's biggest call centre companies employing about 380,000 people in 34 countries - plan to monitor some staff with specialist webcams in order to check for home-working "infractions"; that includes whether they are eating, looking at their phones, or leaving their desks whilst working from home.
AI Snippet of the Week
Former GCHQ boss says: 'AI is too risky for hackers'
Former head of GCHG Robert Hannigan has said that investing in AI technology for cyber crime or terrorism is non-beneficial for cybercriminals, and a risk when it comes to being identified.
Policy Updates
How UK businesses are keeping up to date with the latest GDPR changes
Here are some tips and guidance to follow when it comes to keeping up with UK GDPR regulations.
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