The Daily Valet. - 1/24/20, Friday
✔️ Should We Be Afraid of Facial Recognition?
Friday, January 24th Edition
The photo on the left is going to get me in trouble one day, isn’t it?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Should We Fear Facial Recognition?
A closer look at the controversial company behind an app that can ID a person based on a single photo
What if a stranger could snap your picture on the sidewalk, then use an app to quickly discover your name, address and other details? A startup called Clearview AI has made that possible, and its app is being used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies in the United States, including the FBI, according to a recent report in the New York Times.
On Thursday, Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts issued an open letter demanding answers from the creator of Clearview. Specifically, what entities and law enforcement agencies currently use the technology, as well as details on any past security breaches.
Twitter also sent a letter, of the cease-and-desist variety, reports The Hill. They said that Clearview violated its policies and called on them to stop taking data from Twitter “for any reason” and delete any that was previously collected.
Clearview is quick to point out that its software identified a terrorism suspect. But, according to an investigation by Buzzfeed News, the New York Police Department said that Clearview played no role in the case. And while it’s common for startups to make exaggerated claims, the stakes are much higher when people's personal data is on the line or when someone is identified as a criminal suspect.
To be clear, the Clearview app isn't available to the public, but the Times says police officers and Clearview investors think it will be in the future.
It definitely makes you think. But it's too late to ban facial recognition, says New Scientist. What's needed is smart regulation. Which is exactly what the the European Commission is doing by considering a temporary ban on the use of face recognition in public spaces. If you're like me, you'll be investing in a few more pairs of sunglasses.
↦ Dig Deeper: Sixty years ago, a sharecropper’s son invented a technology to identify faces. Then the record of his role all but vanished. Wired looks into the secret history of facial recognition.
The Doomsday Clock Is Back in the News
NBD, just inching ever closer to disaster ...
Hear that ticking? That's the sound of the Doomsday Clock, back in the news as the hands of the symbolic timer tick closer to midnight—indicating that the likeliness of a human-caused apocalypse has increased since last year.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit group that created the clock, will decide every year how close we are to total destruction, which would happen when the clock reaches "midnight."
The clock is now set at 100 seconds to midnight, reports NBC News. It's the closest it has ever been to symbolic doom and the first time the hands have been within the two-minute mark since the early Cold War fears of the 1950s. What moved us closer? The rising risk of global conflict and the looming threat of climate change. But we didn't need a clock to tell us that, did we?
↦ FYI: Each year, the Bulletin consults with a board of sponsors that includes 13 Nobel Laureates to analyze a range of threats.
Tinder Is Introducing a Panic Button
What does this say about our dating landscape?
Tinder wants to allow users to send out an alarm when bad dates turn really ugly.
Tinder’s parent company Match Group, Inc., is partnering with an app called Noonlight to provide this service. Noonlight tracks the user’s location and sends notifications to the police if safety issues arise, reports BuzzFeed News.
This will give daters who want additional safety measures the option to hit a panic button and receive check-ins. Additionally, users will be able to add a badge to their dating profiles showing that they are protected by the new tracking feature.
And while location sharing may be a privacy concern for some, the Tinder spokesperson said users will be sharing that data with Noonlight, not the dating app itself. Just be careful with false alarms ... because that'd bring the evening to a crashing halt.
↦ The First of Many? Honestly, this option seems like something that could bring some peace of mind to everything from Uber to Airbnb.
Don’t Worry Less. Worry Smarter.
It turns out, worrying can do your body good
Life gives us a lot to worry about. Maybe more now than ever. And while there are countless quotes and proverbs discouraging us from worrying, maybe it's not as bad as people like to make it out to be.
In fact, our own Jordan Taylor found out for today's latest "31 Days" installment that it can actually be quite beneficial. If you're a moderate worrier, recent studies have shown that you live longer thanks to an uptake of "health-promoting behaviors," like getting regular cancer screenings or resolving to kick bad habits like smoking.
So, it seems, ignorance may be bliss, but such unawareness isn't doing you much good. You don't want to worry yourself sick over things you can't change, but going through all the possible outcomes is a defense mechanism that can prepare you for the future.
↦ Read: Why you shouldn't worry about worrying too much.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
Weekend Pairing
The Gentlemen + Some Bourbon
Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen hits theaters today with all you've come to expect from a classic Guy Ritchie film. That means plenty of style and sharp-witted banter, along with enough action and aggression to match. Call me old fashioned, but somehow the violence is less offensive when everyone's well dressed.
The star-studded cast is headlined by Matthew McConaughey, who plays an American expat who's been doing well in London's booming marijuana trade, but is ready to cash out. Suffice it to say that just leads to a lot of issues with everyone from his right-hand man to a handful of dangerous business rivals. You may need a flowchart to keep it all straight, but if you just sit back and take it all in, you'll no doubt have a good time.
↦ Your Pairing:What's more gentlemanly than sitting down with two fingers of whiskey? If I had to choose a good one to sip (maybe from a flask snuck into the theater), it'd be this bottle that, in my opinion, doesn't get enough love. Distilled by Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig Small Batch is one of the smoothest bourbons out there. It's got a pronounced caramel flavor balanced with extra maltiness and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. If you want to get really classy, store it in a mid-century style decanter.
Today’s Deals
Expires 1/26
Expires 1/28
Expires 1/30
↦ Want More? See all 49 sales
Morning Motto
Are you strong enough to be vulnerable?
↦ Follow: @jasonrogersusa
That’s all for today...
...but we could use your help.
The more people who know about The Daily Valet., the stronger it can become. So grab your unique referral code below and start sharing with your friends, family and coworkers to earn some exclusive discounts to our favorite brands and cool stuff you'll actually want (not just throw-away “swag”).
Your Unique Referral Code:
↦ Want to Learn More? Check out your personal Valet. Ambassor page for program details and get a closer look at the available rewards (and how many referrals are needed to score them).
Valet Media LLC350 Lincoln Road, 2nd FloorMiami Beach, FL 33139[email protected]