Posted on 06/01/2014 3:59:56 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The National Security Agency is harvesting huge numbers of images of people from communications that it intercepts through its global surveillance operations for use in sophisticated facial recognition programs, according to top-secret documents.
The spy agencys reliance on facial recognition technology has grown significantly over the last four years as the agency has turned to new software to exploit the flood of images included in emails, text messages, social media, videoconferences and other communications, the N.S.A. documents reveal. Agency officials believe that technological advances could revolutionize the way that the N.S.A. finds intelligence targets around the world, the documents show. The agencys ambitions for this highly sensitive ability and the scale of its effort have not previously been disclosed.
The agency intercepts millions of images per day including about 55,000 facial recognition quality images which translate into tremendous untapped potential, according to 2011 documents obtained from the former agency contractor Edward J. Snowden. While once focused on written and oral communications, the N.S.A. now considers facial images, fingerprints and other identifiers just as important to its mission of tracking suspected terrorists and other intelligence targets, the documents show....
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I hocked up a big hairball right after the 2008 election.
Considering they have access to probably every DMV photo that has been taken for decades along with all the personal info, “What difference does it make now” if they pull a few off of the web? And the only pick they will pull of the web for me is my dogs facebook page pic.
Nasty Satanic Allies
You nailed that one. This should scare the living daylights out of everyone.
You can change your appearance, your IP address, your accounts, your passwords, even your driver's license and ssn ("identity").
But you can't change your DNA, fingerprints, retinal scans or other biodata. Those are permanent markers. Once anyone has that stuff you have lost your ability to be anonymous in any way for the rest of your life.
I'm amazed at how casually people give up their privacy for convenience.
Just remember this little fact folks. This idea of keeping databases on private citizens legal and law abiding activities was the brain fart of a GW Bush United States Attorney General. Never, Ever, forget both parties hate your rights and freedom as much as they hate the Constitution of the United States they willingly ignore.
I’ve maintained for some time that social media is evil. Here’s another example. It’s not the media per se, it’s the way(s) the media gets used.
AFAIK, my pic is nowhere. Gonna stay that way, too.
They have access to DMV photos and in addition, even more personal information on passport applications.
Best defense is a good offense.
You are correct on all aspects.
There is a couple of more scary things re a central storage repository of your DNA and others:
1. Insurance companies and other people in the medical business would have access to your DNA profile. Then, they can cancel policies, never sign policies and charge you even more. After a couple of years of DNA collection, only the perfects might be able to get insurance.
2. Some of us might have a DNA code that is worth billions of $’s to some big DNA pharma company. They might offer you a lot of money to patent and copyright your DNA if they were reputable. Others might just monitor you and use your DNA when you have regular blood tests done with your blood or worse to get your blood/DNA.
So as of now, we have NSA monitoring all of our phone calls, internet interactions and communication sites, all of the social sites, banks with credit reports going back for decades, Facial identification data basing and probably millions of DNA samples, including ones we don’t know about. When, we have blood tests, urine tests or what ever tests using our body fluids or tissues, is that lab sending DNA results to a central collection spot for NSA?
This includes all the children as well. Not many children have passports or DL’s.
My inlaws are forbidden to put pics of my children on facebook.
"NOTE: Subversive Tift owns a savage man-killing pit bull. Lethal force advised when apprehending."
The speculation that the FBI and the DoD are complicit in this is false. They comply with federal law with regard to US persons.
I hate to say, “Take my word for it”, but take my word for it.
Neva-duh!
I should upload the picture of the ugliest person I could find onto my social media accounts. When they come across my accounts, the image will break their equipment! Mwu-hu-hw-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!
Ah Alice......sometimes I forget how wonderful the Brits are at illustrating their books.
As to the NSA....yup we figured
Sir John Tenniel got knighted in part for the Wonderland illustrations, even though he drew Alice Liddell as a blond...
oooo thank you for that information. I like learning new things
Let’s see that pretty smile, Citizen! [click]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.