US Border Patrol intelligence units will gain access to a face recognition tool built on billions of images scraped from the internet. United States Customs and Border Protection plans to spend $225,000 for a year of access to Clearview AI, a face recognition tool that compares photos against billions of images scraped from the internet . The deal extends access to Clearview tools to Border Patrol's headquarters intelligence division (INTEL) and the National Targeting Center, units that collect and analyze data as part of what CBP calls a coordinated effort to "disrupt, degrade, and dismantle" people and networks viewed as security threats. The contract states that Clearview provides access to "over 60+ billion publicly available images" and will be used for "tactical targeting" and "strategic counter-network analysis," indicating the service is intended to be embedded in analysts' day-to-day intelligence work rather than reserved for isolated investigations. CBP says its intelligence units draw from a "variety of sources," including commercially available tools and publicly available data, to identify people and map their connections for national security and immigration operations.

In November, the Internal Revenue Service launched an online security system that uses face recognition to confirm a person's identity. Public attention to the project last week triggered an outcry. The ACLU called the project "deeply troubling," saying face recognition "has been shown to be less accurate for people of color." Some IRS functions, like scheduling payments--but not filing taxes--now require first-time users to verify their identity with Virginia startup ID.me, which also works with 27 state employment agencies and the Veterans Administration. The process involves photographing a government-issued ID and uploading a video selfie so algorithms can match face and document.

Facial recognition technology is generating lots of excitement. Yet, it is also very controversial around issues like privacy, reliability, possible bias and lack of regulation. As a result, businesses must beware of the potential disadvantages of facial recognition. There is much criticism about the use of facial recognition technology. Thus, interest groups tend to be very opinionated about it.

In this Oct. 31, 2018, file photo, a man, who declined to be identified, has his face painted to represent efforts to defeat facial recognition during a protest at Amazon headquarters over the company's facial recognition system, "Rekognition," in Seattle. San Francisco is on track to become the first U.S. city to ban the use of facial recognition by police and other city agencies. These days, with facial recognition technology, you've got a face that can launch a thousand applications, so to speak. Sure, you may love the ease of opening your phone just by facing it instead of tapping in a code. But how do you feel about having your mug scanned, identifying you as you drive across a bridge, when you board an airplane or to confirm you're not a stalker on your way into a Taylor Swift concert?

Facebook is facing calls to deploy facial recognition technology to block scam adverts featuring celebrities, after consumer campaigner Martin Lewis launched legal proceedings against the social network over fake promotions claiming his endorsement. Damian Collins, the chair of the parliamentary committee investigating online disinformation, told the Guardian he would ask the social network to consider new ways to block fake promotions when the company's chief technology office appears to answer questions in parliament on Thursday. "Martin Lewis's case highlights yet another failure on the part of Facebook to protect its users," said the Tory MP, who leads the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. "The fact that the face of a man who has dedicated himself to aiding consumers to spend their money wisely could be used to defraud those very same people is something that Facebook should be ashamed of," he said. "Facebook is able to develop and roll out technology such as facial recognition to increase revenue," he added.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has everything to be a significant technological event. If we already had an appetizer of this during the presentation of the city as the next venue of the games during the closing of Rio 2016, little by little, more information comes to confirm this idea. The latest comes from the Japan Times website, which talks about the use of facial recognition technology during the event. Citing an anonymous source, the publication says that the organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will scan the face of everyone who is working on the games. This includes not only the event organization team but also athletes and media professionals.

I have a confession to make. I'm a privacy lawyer who researches the risks of face recognition technology – and I will be buying the new iPhone. Apple's next generation smartphone will use face recognition, thanks to infrared and 3D sensors within its front-facing camera. Reports indicate that the face scan and unlock system will be almost instantaneous and require no buttons to be pressed, being always "on" and ready to read your face. Android users can expect similar face unlock features as well.

Right now, the US is trotting out an airport security plan revolving around facial recognition. It's supposed to automatically register visitors to the US when they leave, and signal when they come back. However, Customs and Border Protection now wants to expand the effort to include virtually every situation where you normally need an ID -- and that could include scanning US citizens. The agency's John Wagner has floated the possibility that face recognition could also be used to scan all arrivals, TSA checkpoints and lounge access, including citizens. CBP hasn't committed to a firm plan, but it tells The Verge it wants to "open the dialogue" to people outside its walls.

The Galaxy S8 is one of the most stunning phones we've ever laid eyes on, but there's one design element we can't quite wrap our heads around. Instead of centering the fingerprint sensor on the back like so many other phone makers have done, Samsung has placed it next to the camera, virtually assuring that most people will use one of the other myriad ways to unlock. But the one people are most likely to use is also one of the least secure. Instead of a pattern or a passcode, you can set up your Galaxy S8 to unlock as soon as it sees your face (since you're likely to be looking at it anyway). It utilizes the front camera to study the proportions of your face and when it recognizes it's you, it'll unlock.