Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping • Hacker News Board

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#301

Post by dogman144 » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:04 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #69

dogman144 wrote: post #35

Whoever builds a wearable “sparkler” that is able to disrupt digital cameras or the underlying tech in a way that doesn’t require the user to wear a large scarf or similar is going to really usher in an interesting part of history.

Your face is just one of a myriad of things that can be recognized and tracked. There are so many facets of the human body which can all be combined. Can't see your face? Who cares- I can see how far apart your eyes are, how tall you are, your shoulder-to-elbow length, your walking speed, and your approximate weight. You're dogman144, and you spend an average of $26.34 per visit.

Ya tracking its more than just face. Thinking of some wearable RF-ish broadcaster, use it disrupt the comp vision that is a root for biometrics of various types. I know I’m hand waving a lot of stuff technically though.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#302

Post by spaetzleesser » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:07 PM UTC

6510 wrote: post #289

spaetzleesser wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very true. We are witnessing how a new aristocracy is being built. This time it’s not based on skills in warfare but around business skills. But the result is the same: you have a small group who thinks they are better than others and deserve to receive the vast majority of the profits society creates. And they manipulate the game to their advantage. This seems to happen in all societies until a revolution happens an…

We are going though iterations of societies/empires/cultures. Each round has the same issues but we get to learn from- and bring solutions from the previous one. The collective is much stronger than influential individuals but there has to be a collective will to change the game. It seems to me that we are more humanitarian than many previous cycles but I'm afraid we wont show much of an interest in [epic] game desig…

“until things get truly terrible. “

That’s the sad part. Big change seems to require a big disruptive event like war or revolution.

But i agree that things seem to get better overall. Unfortunately there are plenty of downs in between and these can last many years.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#303

Post by the_other » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:13 PM UTC

iso1210 wrote: post #272

munificent wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The industrial revolution divided the world into those who had capital (owned factories, tools, land, etc.) and those who produced labor (worked in the factories, used the tools, worked the land, etc.). Those on the side of labor couldn't provide value without access to capital where it could be used. Conversely, those with capital need labor to extract value from it. The factories don't run themselves. In theory, th…

> At some point, we will hopefully have an "organized data movement" where people work together to be able to make effective demands about how their data can be harvested and used. We aren't there yet. The GDPR comes along, and HN hated it

That's not surprising. Some of us here are part of the problem.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#304

Post by wolverine876 » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:17 PM UTC

dellcybpwr wrote: post #278

hamburgerwah wrote: post #269

One other thing people may not realize. If you use your credit card at a merchant online or in person and you associate any information such as a telephone number or email with that card. Any time you use that card, online or off, to make a purchase with that merchant those transactions can be tied together regardless of whether you provide your email/phone on future transactions. Large vendors such as walmart etc no…

okay... i'll bite: how does one use a card online without providing phone or email?

There are credit card services that provide some privacy, such as proxies: I've heard of Abine, Privacy, and something called Final, but I haven't looked into them.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#305

Post by asdff » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:20 PM UTC

fennecfoxen wrote: post #185

munificent wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The industrial revolution divided the world into those who had capital (owned factories, tools, land, etc.) and those who produced labor (worked in the factories, used the tools, worked the land, etc.). Those on the side of labor couldn't provide value without access to capital where it could be used. Conversely, those with capital need labor to extract value from it. The factories don't run themselves. In theory, th…

> The industrial revolution divided the world into those who had capital (owned factories, tools, land, etc.) and those who produced labor (worked in the factories, used the tools, worked the land, etc.). Don't be silly. The world was divided long before the Industrial Revolution, and if "labor" was ever on top of things, it was for fleeting moments. What changed with the Industrial Revolution was the collection of e…

Oligarchy is as old as civilization. A roman senator was just as beholden to a major olive oil producer 2000 years ago as an American senator to a major oil producer today.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#306

Post by asdff » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:23 PM UTC

silisili wrote: post #254

mbg721 wrote: post #55

Kroger has felt especially intrusive for a couple of decades; it's almost as though they're going out of their way to be manipulative and creepy, right from the store layout where Pepsi is $87.00 at your feet and Coke is $0.75 at eye level, down to the personalized coupons they send you in the mail. But the big stores that don't have loyalty cards are still slurping up data; they just get it from your credit card and…

I don't really understand the loyalty card thing anyways. When I lived in the midwest, I'd just get a card from Kroger but never fill out the paperwork. I thought I was being clever, but as pointed out, they still track you by your payment method. With that being the case, why do loyalty cards still exist? For cash buyers?

To drive demand to certain items at certain times. Not everything is always on sale with the card.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#307

Post by asdff » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:25 PM UTC

SkyPuncher wrote: post #61

karmakaze wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All that seems like they don't want you to steal at their store by giving deterrent cues. Which parts were practically inconvenient, or slow you down?

It's not about inconvenience or efficiency. It's the hostile signaling Walmart is communicating to their customers. I go to the Target just down the street, and it's the exact opposite experience.

It depends on the target. Theft was so bad at one that I used to live near, that they installed a police substation specifically for the target within the building.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#308

Post by emodendroket » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:28 PM UTC

JohnWhigham wrote: post #101

blagie wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then we can stop going to stores and shop more online, since another upside of bricks-and-mortar is gone.

Data tracking and collection has always been a thing for big brick and mortar stores, it's just that tracking technology has massively progressed in the past decade.

Yeah that’s all loyalty cards are about.

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#309

Post by jeofken » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:29 PM UTC

dellcybpwr wrote: post #278

hamburgerwah wrote: post #269

One other thing people may not realize. If you use your credit card at a merchant online or in person and you associate any information such as a telephone number or email with that card. Any time you use that card, online or off, to make a purchase with that merchant those transactions can be tied together regardless of whether you provide your email/phone on future transactions. Large vendors such as walmart etc no…

okay... i'll bite: how does one use a card online without providing phone or email?

I try to use Offset credit when possible - yet only with nerd friends

Re: Many Americans not aware of being tracked with facial recognition while shopping

#310

Post by akomtu » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 10:35 PM UTC

oramit wrote: post #234

nonfamous wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you buy at a grocery store can reveal a lot about you: - Personal care products: gender - Medications: age/health of you and family members - Magazines/media: political affiliation, social class The list goes on. [Edit: formatting]

Yes, you can infer a lot based on grocery store purchases. I don't deny it - but why does it matter? What bad things have happened to the average person based on grocery store purchase history? Again, i'm not trying to be flippant with my questions I'm honestly just frustrated after decades of following privacy discussions that there isn't a clear answer to this question.

For example, a person with diabetes or other serious condition gets denied a good job because the company run a background check and saw such and such purchases. Medical data is protected for this reason (HIPAA, etc.) but all other data isn't.