1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910825797403321

Autore

Gates Kelly A.

Titolo

Our Biometric Future : Facial Recognition Technology and the Culture of Surveillance / / Kelly A. Gates

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, NY : , : New York University Press, , [2011]

©2011

ISBN

0-8147-3303-4

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource

Collana

Critical Cultural Communication ; ; 2

Disciplina

363.232

Soggetti

Biometric identification

Face

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. Facial Recognition Technology from the Lab to the Marketplace -- 2. Police Power and the Smart CCTV Experiment -- 3. Finding the Face of Terror in Data -- 4. Inventing the Security-Conscious, Tech-Savvy Citizen -- 5. Automated Facial Expression Analysis and the Mobilization of Affect -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author

Sommario/riassunto

Since the 1960's, a significant effort has been underway to program computers to “see” the human face&#8212to develop automated systems for identifying faces and distinguishing them from one another—commonly known as Facial Recognition Technology. While computer scientists are developing FRT in order to design more intelligent and interactive machines, businesses and states agencies view the technology as uniquely suited for “smart” surveillance—systems that automate the labor of monitoring in order to increase their efficacy and spread their reach. Tracking this technological pursuit, Our Biometric Future identifies FRT as a prime example of the failed technocratic approach to governance, where new technologies are pursued as shortsighted solutions to complex social problems. Culling news stories, press releases, policy statements, PR kits and other materials, Kelly Gates provides evidence that, instead of providing more security for more people, the pursuit of FRT is being



driven by the priorities of corporations, law enforcement and state security agencies, all convinced of the technology’s necessity and unhindered by its complicated and potentially destructive social consequences. By focusing on the politics of developing and deploying these technologies, Our Biometric Future argues not for the inevitability of a particular technological future, but for its profound contingency and contestability.