  We survey over 100 face datasets constructed between 1976 to 2019 of 145
million images of over 17 million subjects from a range of sources,
demographics and conditions. Our historical survey reveals that these datasets
are contextually informed, shaped by changes in political motivations,
technological capability and current norms. We discuss how such influences mask
specific practices (some of which may actually be harmful or otherwise
problematic) and make a case for the explicit communication of such details in
order to establish a more grounded understanding of the technology's function
in the real world.
