Well this seems a bit suspect. Google is collecting the eyelid shape and skin tone of children via parent submitted videos. And apparently, Canadian telco TELUS TELUS International is involved in this. Here’s the details:
Google is collecting the eyelid shape and skin tone of children via parent submitted videos, according to a project description online reviewed by 404 Media. Canadian tech conglomerate TELUS, which says it is working on Google’s behalf, is offering parents $50 to film their children wearing various props such as hats or sunglasses as part of the project, the description adds.
The project shows the methods some companies are using to build machine learning, artificial intelligence, or facial recognition datasets and products. Rather than scraping already existing images or analyzing previously collected material, TELUS, and by extension Google, is asking the public to contribute directly and get paid in return. Google told 404 Media the collection was part of the company’s efforts to verify users’ age.
“Eyelid shape. Skin tone. Video recording (without voice),” a section of the project terms and conditions listing the data collected reads. Another section says that TELUS’ customer—that is, Google—will collect “facial geometry.”
Let’s see what TELUS TELUS International and Google have to say about this:
TELUS writes that the purpose is to “capture a broad cross-section of participants targeting various combinations of demographics, with the goal of ensuring that our customer’s services, and derived products, are equally representative of a diverse set of end-users.” The description adds that the use case is to “help improve the authentication methods, thus offering more secure tools for the end users.”
Google told 404 Media in an email that TELUS was enlisted to find people to participate in the study, but TELUS itself did not receive any of the videos submitted. Rather, TELUS worked to identify eligible participants for Google.
A Google spokesperson said in a statement that “As part of our commitment to delivering age-appropriate experiences and to comply with laws and regulations around the world, we’re exploring ways to help our users verify their age. Last year, Telus helped us find volunteers for a project exploring whether this could be done via selfies. From there, Google collected videos and images of faces, clearly explaining how the content will be used and, as with all research involving minors, we required parental consent for participants under the age of 18. We’ve also put strict privacy protections in place, including limiting the amount of time the data will be retained and providing all participants the option to delete their data at any time.”
Google said improving user experience in this area also helps adults verify their age, and can assist with services that might be age-gated to children and teenagers. The company also said using outside vendors can help collect a diverse dataset and ultimately build more inclusive products.
Like I said, this seems a bit suspect. The fact that Google and TELUS TELUS International have teamed up to do this really rubs me the wrong way. Google’s involvement in this doesn’t surprise me in the least. But the fact that TELUS TELUS International is involved in this does as I always believed that TELUS TELUS International would never be involved in something like this. Add to that the fact that this whole project was aimed at kids who could not consent for themselves and it’s not a good look for either company.
UPDATE: In this story I wrote TELUS when it should have been TELUS International. TELUS is TELUS International’s parent company and they operate separately. That’s why the original mentions of TELUS have a strike through font like this. The story from 404 Media has not been corrected as that is the responsibility of 404 Media.
Google/Mandiant To The World: There are Lots Of Cyber Threats That Can Influence Elections
Posted in Commentary with tags Google, Mandiant on April 27, 2024 by itnerdFrom the “we better be paying attention to this” department comes Google’s recent Mandiant report that lists a dozen different ways cyber threat actors can influence elections. From the executive summary:
Madison Horn (OK-5) Congressional Candidate had this comment:
In the recent Mandiant report by Google, a range of cyber threats to elections is detailed, but the proliferation of mis- and disinformation campaigns stands out as particularly alarming. These campaigns, which meticulously erode trust in governmental institutions and corrupt democratic processes, pose a severe threat that transcends political lines and demands immediate action.
Driven by motives ranging from shifting electoral outcomes to undermining public confidence and generating profit, these disinformation efforts are often orchestrated by state-backed entities from nations such as China, Russia, and Iran. Their impact is undeniable, as seen in instances like Russia’s involvement in the 2016 U.S. election and China’s ongoing global influence operations, which starkly demonstrate their capacity to sway public opinion and disrupt electoral integrity.
The avenues for these campaigns are primarily popular social media platforms—X, Telegram, Facebook—and YouTube, making the digital battlefield as accessible as it is dangerous. The consequences are profound, resulting in increased voter disengagement, the rise of unqualified leaders, and the destabilization of nations.
This is an urgent security issue that cannot be politicized. The integrity of our democracy is in jeopardy, making it imperative that we elect officials who grasp the complexity of these modern challenges. We need leaders who are committed to implementing robust cybersecurity measures, enhancing digital literacy, and fostering international cooperation to counteract the pervasive influence of state-sponsored disinformation. Our response must be swift and resolute to safeguard our democratic processes.
My opinion is that we all need to be paying attention to this and acting on this report to make sure that elections regardless of where they are are conducted in a free and fair manner without interference. The thing that concerns me is that we live in such a partisan environment at the moment that this could become a partisan issue. And it shouldn’t be regardless wherever on the political spectrum you happen to be on.
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