Before you apply for a job, do a PimEyes facial recognition search
IDSC "BlackTechLogy": Facial recognition site brought up results I'd rather unsee
This post is part of a series entitled “BlackTechLogy.” Click here for the archived posts.
Writer’s note: When this post was first published, PimEyes was free. It is not anymore.
Facial recognition software is one of those areas of technology that I’m both fascinated with and loathe. In the right hands, it’s a useful tool to be able to police your own photos as well as those of someone you may be interested in (romantically or professionally). So when I heard about the free facial recognition software site PimEyes, I was excited to see what the results would be. I looked myself up first and 95% of the photos were of me at various hosting events or dog-walking scenarios—give or take a few little girls who look reasonably close to Childhood Shamontiel.
ADVERTISEMENT ~ Amazon
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a percentage from purchases with my referral links. I know some consumers are choosing to boycott Amazon for its DEI removal. However, after thinking about this thoroughly, I choose to continue promoting intriguing products from small businesses, women-owned businesses and (specifically) Black-owned businesses who still feature their items on Amazon. All five of my Substack publications now include a MINIMUM of one product sold by a Black-owned business. (I have visited the seller’s official site, not just the Amazon Black-owned logo, to verify this.) If you still choose to boycott, I 100% respect that decision.
I took my Internet search one step further and decided to test out a Medium user whose homepage headline caught my attention. I right-clicked and saved this Medium writer’s profile image and searched via PimEyes again. The first few sets of photos were attractive photos of him/her in selfies, at college alum events and get-togethers. Then halfway down the page, I saw the same face—with multiple penises around it. Um. Whet?
I can’t unsee these photos, and once again, facial recognition software has become problematic. This was not what I had in mind.
Recommended Read: “Artificial intelligence improves, deepfake risks continue ~ IDSC ‘BlackTechLogy’ March 2023 Exclusive: Who’s responsible when a shared video looks real, but it’s deepfake deception?”