The new iPhone X seems to have caught Apple in a lie with its the new facial recognition feature, Apple will be sharing data collected from with others. This undermines the previous statement Apple made back in September with the announcement of the new Tenth anniversary phone.
This news was discovered by Reuters. However, executives also talked about a very structured and strict on-device storage and end-to-end encryption. Which is a safe way to protect sensitive data.
The agreement stated that third-party app makers will only have access to the visual facial mapping data. This data will not be the same as the mathematical system used to open and unlock the new iPhone X. Apple has specified that the latter is encrypted on each device. Not even Apple employees will be able to access the data found in iPhone from this facial recognition technology.
Developers however, do still have access to a map of a user’s face as part of the True Depth camera feature. This could give developers knowledge on how your eyes flutter or which way your eye-brows move when angry. These features are how Snapchat’s iPhone X-specific filters are shown and can be used by advertisers.
Since Apple didn’t further comment on the questions surrounding the security of its products it is not yet known what measures will be put in place to ensure consumer safety. There are of course specific restrictions that Apple uses and expects with their technology. The data found can’t be used for advertising or marketing purposes, it can’t be sold to analytics companies, and lastly developers are not allowed to use this facial recognition technology in creating fake or anonymous user profiles.
Apple does have an extremely strict process for reviewing new applications for products. Apple will ban those who violate their privacy rules and agreements. Concern in this new realm of facial recognition technology is however affecting many other organisations. Even the American Civil Liberties Union is concerned with the direction Apple is going.
What to watch out for are those who may exploit this new technology. It is unlikely that huge tech companies making application would violate their agreements or contracts, but smaller companies may not be inclined to follow the same morality. Jay Stanley, an ACLU senior policy analyst, confirmed this with a brief statement: “It means household names probably won’t exploit this, but there’s still a lot of room for bottom feeders.”
