"Big Brother" AI Now Tracks You by Clothes, Not Face! Privacy Nightmare Unfolds

 In a startling development that redefines surveillance, Veritone's latest AI tool, "Track," enables law enforcement agencies to monitor individuals without relying on facial recognition. Instead, it utilizes non-biometric attributes such as body size, clothing, hair color, and even gait to identify and track people across various video sources.

🔍 How Does Veritone's "Track" Work?

Veritone's "Track" is an advanced AI-powered video forensics tool designed to assist public safety and law enforcement agencies. Unlike traditional facial recognition systems, "Track" focuses on non-biometric characteristics:

• Body Size and Shape: Analyzes an individual's physique to distinguish them in crowds.

• Clothing and Accessories: Identifies unique clothing items, colors, and accessories like hats or backpacks.

• Hair Color and Style: Recognizes variations in hair color and styling.

• Gait Analysis: Observes walking patterns to differentiate individuals 

By compiling these attributes, "Track" can stitch together video clips from multiple sources, creating a cohesive timeline of an individual's movements without using personally identifiable information (PII) 

🛡️ Privacy Concerns and Ethical Implications

The deployment of "Track" has ignited a debate over privacy and civil liberties. While it circumvents facial recognition bans in several U.S. states, critics argue that it still poses significant privacy risks. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warns that such technology enables mass surveillance without consent, potentially leading to abuses of power.

Moreover, the ability to track individuals based on non-biometric attributes could disproportionately affect marginalized communities, raising concerns about profiling and discrimination.

🏛️ Adoption by Law Enforcement Agencies

Despite the controversies, "Track" has been adopted by over 400 clients, including local police departments, universities, and federal agencies like the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security . Its ability to analyze vast amounts of video data efficiently makes it an attractive tool for law enforcement, especially in areas where facial recognition is restricted.

⚙️ Technical Capabilities and Integration

"Track" is part of Veritone's Intelligent Digital Evidence Management System (iDEMS), which leverages the aiWARE platform—a suite of over 300 AI models across various cognitive categories . This integration allows for advanced data analysis, improved collaboration, and scalability.

Recent enhancements to "Track" include AI-powered vehicle tracking, enabling users to identify and monitor vehicles by make and model across multiple video sources.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Veritone's "Track"?

"Track" is an AI-powered video forensics tool that identifies and tracks individuals using non-biometric attributes like clothing, body size, and gait, without relying on facial recognition.

2. How does "Track" differ from facial recognition technology?

Unlike facial recognition, which uses facial features to identify individuals, "Track" focuses on non-biometric characteristics, allowing it to function where facial recognition is banned.

3. Why are privacy advocates concerned about "Track"?

Critics argue that "Track" enables mass surveillance without consent, potentially leading to abuses of power and discrimination, despite not using facial recognition.

4. Where is "Track" currently being used?

"Track" has been adopted by over 400 clients, including local police departments, universities, and federal agencies like the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

5. Does "Track" store personally identifiable information (PII)?

No, "Track" is designed to operate without storing PII, focusing instead on non-biometric attributes to identify individuals.

6. Can "Track" analyze live video feeds?

While currently focused on recorded video analysis, Veritone has plans to enable real-time analysis in the near future

7. How does "Track" handle data from multiple video sources?

"Track" can stitch together clips from various sources, including CCTV, body cameras, drones, and social media, to create a cohesive timeline of an individual's movements.

8. Is "Track" compliant with current privacy laws?

"Track" is designed to comply with privacy laws by avoiding the use of PII and facial recognition; however, its deployment still raises ethical and legal questions.

9. What are the potential risks of using "Track"?

Potential risks include unauthorized surveillance, profiling, and the erosion of civil liberties, especially if used without proper oversight.

10. How can individuals protect themselves from such surveillance?

Staying informed about surveillance technologies, advocating for transparent policies, and supporting legislation that protects privacy rights are ways individuals can respond.

As AI surveillance technologies like Veritone's "Track" become more prevalent, the balance between public safety and individual privacy continues to be a pressing concern. While these tools offer powerful capabilities for law enforcement, they also challenge existing legal frameworks and ethical standards. Ongoing public discourse and regulatory scrutiny are essential to ensure that such technologies are used responsibly and do not infringe upon fundamental rights.