FTC Facial Recognition Workshop Tweets

December 8, 2011

The following is a transcript of the primary tweets sent out as part of the FTC’s Facial Recognition 

Workshop. The FTC used the Twitter account: @FTC, which can be accessed online at: 

www.twitter.com/FTC. 

TODAY: FTC hosts Fact Facts: A workshop on facial recognition technology from 9:30-5:30pm in DC. 

Watch live: (link to webcast) #FTCpriv

Agenda for Face Facts workshop today: http://go.usa.gov/5f5. Follow #FTCpriv for live tweets of 

workshop by FTC!

Need more info on FTC's Face Facts workshop? Agenda, panelist bios, link for webcast & more: 

http://go.usa.gov/5oa #FTCpriv

(Highlights of Chairman’s opening remarks)

FTC Chairman Leibowitz welcomes attendees to the FTC’s Face Facts forum. #FTCpriv

Chairman: FTC focusing on commercial use of facial tech including possibilities for consumers & 

potential threats to privacy. #FTCpriv

FTC walks line b/w encouraging innovative technologies reshaping society & protecting consumers’ right 

to privacy.–Leibowitz #FTCpriv

Chairman Leibowitz highlights key points of FTC staff’s prelim #privacy staff report: privacy by design, 

choice & transparency. #FTCpriv

FTC Chairman: Excellent group today including technologists, small startup & large biz reps, consumer 

advocates & privacy pros. #FTCpriv

Need 2 work together 2 shape future of facial tech 2 one that bens consumers & market while 

respecting right 2 #privacy. Leibowitz #FTCpriv

Copy of FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz’s Face Facts opening remarks: http://go.usa.gov/5oy #FTCpriv 

#privacy

(Workshop Tweets)

Panel 1 starting now! Facial Detection & Recognition Technology: How Does It Work? Moderated by 

FTC’s Mark Eichorn. #FTCpriv

Have Qs about today's workshop? Email them to facefacts@ftc.gov or tweet them & we'll try to get 

them answered if time allows. #FTCpriv

Ralph Gross, Carnegie Mellon, giving presentation on history of facial recognition tech & how difficult 

facial detection & rec is. #FTCpriv
Dr. Jonathon Phillips, NIST, says pose & illumination are some of the factors that affect accuracy of facial 

recognition tech. #FTCpriv

NIST panelist Phillips discussed the progress of facial recognition technology & improved accuracy. 

#FTCpriv

Panelists discussing difference b/w facial detection & facial recognition in terms of performance / 

accuracy. #FTCpriv

Panel 2 up now: Facial Detection Uses & Ramifications. Moderated by Manas Mohapatra, FTC. #FTCpriv

Harley Geiger, Center for Democracy & Tech, just discussed Digital Signage Federation's privacy 

standards for facial det & rec. #FTCpriv

Jai Haissman, Affective Interfaces, discusses how emotion sensing tech can be used to determine 

interest, comfort, etc. of viewer. #FTCpriv

Andrew Cummins, SceneTap, gives overview of how their app uses facial det to give real-time 

demographic snapshot of nightlife scene. #FTCpriv

Fred Carter, Priv Comm'r Office of Ontario: Build priv by design principles in facial det systems; 

important no image be retained. #FTCpriv

Beth Givens, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, discussing key challenges 4 privacy protection w/use of facial 

detection technologies. #FTCpriv

Face Facts lunch break. Will resume tweeting #FTCpriv at 1:15

FTC workshop on facial recognition: Webcast: http://ow.ly/7SRRb Agenda: http://go.usa.gov/5f5 Bios: 

http://go.usa.gov/57s #FTCpriv

(Highlights of Commissioner Brill’s remarks)

FTC Commissioner Julie Brill welcomes Face Facts participants back from lunch. Highlights the morning’s 

panels. #FTCpriv

Brill says advertisers using facial detection tech to id age & gender of a face exposed to their ads & using 

targeted marketing. #FTCpriv

Facial detection doesn’t identify specific individuals now – but soon we will be able to put a name with a 

face. – Brill #FTCpriv

Brill notes various facial recog scenarios to bear in mind as we guide & react to how these technologies 

change the way we buy, sell, & live. #FTCpriv

Of note, Brill is pleased that fellow privacy regulators from Canada & United Kingdom part of workshop 

as panelists & attendees. #FTCpriv
Brill: Delighted 2 have privacy advocacy, academic & industry reps. Values input as we strive 2 protect 

consumers in marketplace. #FTCpriv

Copy of FTC Commissioner Julie Brill’s Face Facts remarks: http://go.usa.gov/5HF #FTCpriv #privacy

(Workshop Tweets)

Panel 3: Facial Recognition: What’s Possible Now & What's Future Hold? Webcast: (link to webcast). 

Agenda: http://go.usa.gov/5f5 #FTCpriv

Benjamin Petrosky discussing Google's approach to facial det & facial recog tech including Picasa & 

Google+ Find My Face products. #FTCpriv

Gil Hirsch, Gil Hirsch, face.com, discussing various online uses of facial recog including photo tagging and 

reputation mgmt. #FTCpriv

Chris Conley, ACLU of Northern California, talking about consumer awareness & control re: facial 

recognition. #FTCpriv

Panel 4 (final panel): Facial Detection & Recognition: Exploring Privacy Implications. #FTCpriv

Daniel Solove, GW Law: Is US privacy law ready for facial recognition? Not even close. #FTCpriv

Panelists discussing whether notice is needed when facial detection is used to display targeted ads to 

shoppers w/ a coupon

My faceprint is a unique element that belongs 2 me. Need my consent if you store it in database. -

Joseph Atick, Intl Biometrics & ID Assoc.

Erin Egan, Facebook, discussing notice and choice within social context including Facebook's photo 

tagging options. #FTCpriv

Pam Dixon, World Privacy Forum, says there should be no secret collection of consumer information. 

#FTCpriv

FTC’s Jessica Rich, Division Privacy & Identity Protection, delivers Face Facts workshop closing remarks. 

#FTCpriv

Rich thanks attendees, calling workshop “incredibly productive.” Sums up 3 main themes of workshop. 

#FTCpriv

1)Consumer awareness: Do consumers realize tech is used? Understand consequences? Consensus 

today: consumer should receive notice. #FTCpriv

2)How much control do/should consumers have about info about themselves? One proposal: choice. 

Other says right to know what info collected. #FTCpriv

3)Incorporating strong privacy protections into dev & op of facial tech. FTC encourages all biz to dev 

privacy by design. #FTCpriv
Rich: Facial rec is still young field, so it’s right time to consider privacy as the technologies and biz 

models develop. #FTCpriv

Have comments about facial recognition technology & FTC workshop? Send them to facefacts@ftc.gov

before Jan. 13, 2012. #FTCpriv

Thanks all for participating in today’s Face Facts workshop. Have a great day! #FTCpriv