Nice. The most identifying EXIF data is probably the GPS location. What else have to be scrubbed?
The tool blurs faces.
Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
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Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#12I recently found myself in a position where I had to blur a ton of faces from multiple pictures (about 100/day). It’s really tedious to do it manually and something like OpenCV shines. We found a repo [1] with python code that automatically detects and blurs faces. This script was one of many, except it had a very high accuracy. Over 90%. Removing exif data is a great idea. [1] github.com/telesoho/faceblur
For protest photos, removing face is not enough. This tool says “face and other identifying info”, but not clear what that means exactly
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#13The protests were sparked by the lack of accountability of the police resulting in police brutality. The violent people among the protesters are subject to the same incentives. The more they expect to be held accountable, the more likely they will refrain from violence.
Anonymizing photos of the violent ones is therefore likely to support their actions by making accountability less likely. To scrub ethically, limit it to the non-violent protestors. To support non-violence, better to help identify the violent people -- police or civilian -- the opposite of anonymizing them.
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#14How resilient is blurring against deconvolution?
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#15Now I would hope everyone is wearing a mask
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#16I recently found myself in a position where I had to blur a ton of faces from multiple pictures (about 100/day). It’s really tedious to do it manually and something like OpenCV shines. We found a repo [1] with python code that automatically detects and blurs faces. This script was one of many, except it had a very high accuracy. Over 90%. Removing exif data is a great idea. [1] github.com/telesoho/faceblur
I’m reminded of a reddit thread a while back about the US government paying a large sum to create an “unblur” function for photoshop. Someone in the comments was able to rotate and flip a photo and use the photoshop blur tool to effectively undo a blur for free.
Perhaps it’s better to remove the section of photo with a person’s face instead? Or draw a shape over their face and flatten the image? It seems to me as long as the pixels are there the identifying data is there for anyone willing to spend the time and effort to find it.
Edit: Apparently it was interpol, not the US government. I can't find the reddit thread but here's a NYT article with the photo: https://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/interpol-untwir...
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#17This is great for some situations. However, my personal policy is to upload my protest content to Google Photos asap (if appropriate). This makes sure your content is off your device if your phone gets confiscated AND it provides (be it thin) layer of authenticity/validation of the content.
See also, the ACLU Mobile Justice app: https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-po...
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#18This is great for some situations. However, my personal policy is to upload my protest content to Google Photos asap (if appropriate). This makes sure your content is off your device if your phone gets confiscated AND it provides (be it thin) layer of authenticity/validation of the content.
Can't they find photos from others, examine the angle of your photos and prove it was you that took the pictures? They can also subpeona your carrier for records indicating you were a location at a certain time. I can see some diligent prosecutors going back and looking at data to gather evidence.
I think the point is protecting custody of the photo rather than disavow taking it.
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#19The protests were sparked by the lack of accountability of the police resulting in police brutality. The violent people among the protesters are subject to the same incentives. The more they expect to be held accountable, the more likely they will refrain from violence. Anonymizing photos of the violent ones is therefore likely to support their actions by making accountability less likely. To scrub ethically, limit i…
What's your plan, exactly, for making the program not work for you if you've smashed a window?
Re: Image Scrubber: tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests
#20This is great for some situations. However, my personal policy is to upload my protest content to Google Photos asap (if appropriate). This makes sure your content is off your device if your phone gets confiscated AND it provides (be it thin) layer of authenticity/validation of the content.
> "...Google Photos..."
everything you said was good except this. google is not your (or the protesters') friend.