No Face to Hide

Big Picture Science

Face it – your mug is not entirely yours. It’s routinely uploaded to social media pages and captured on CCTV cameras with – and without – your consent. Sophisticated facial recognition technology can identify you and even make links to your personal data. There are few places where you’re safe from scrutiny.

Find out how a computer analyzes the geometry of a face and why even identical twins don’t fool its discerning gaze. Proponents say that biometrics are powerful tools to stop crime, but the lack of regulation concerns privacy groups. Do you want to be identified – and your habits tracked – whenever you step outside?

Plus, astronomy meets forensics. How analyzing photos and paintings using weather records, sky charts, and phases of the moon help solve intriguing mysteries, including the history of an iconic V.J. Day photo.

Guests:

• Donald Olson – Physicist, astronomer, Texas State University

• Marios Savvides – Computer engineer, Director, CyLab Biometrics Center, Carnegie Mellon University

• Alvaro Bedoya – Executive director, Center on Privacy and Technology, Georgetown Law

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