from the Daily Journal-Opinion newsletter
The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday that Rite Aid has been banned from using facial recognition in its stores to track customers it suspects of criminal activity.
Rite-Aid has stores in Brattleboro, Windsor, Randolph, Bethel, and Springfield.
“When a customer entered a store who supposedly matched an existing image on its database, employees would receive an automatic alert instructing them to take action — and the majority of the time this instruction was to ‘approach and identify,’ meaning verifying the customer’s identity and asking them to leave,” reported TechCrunch. “Often, these ‘matches’ were false positives that led to employees incorrectly accusing customers of wrongdoing, creating ’embarrassment, harassment, and other harm,’ according to the FTC.”
In addition, not only did RiteAid fail to disclose to customers that facial recognition software was in use, but it instructed employees not to reveal this information.
Settlement announced over Google app store pricing – Vermont and New Hampshire are part of a $700 national settlement with Google over its noncompetitive practices with the Google Play Store.
“In this case, Google used its dominant market position to limit competition and harm consumers through commissions on in-app purchases by consumers. This settlement marks an important outcome, as it will have a lasting impact,” said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella. “Google has agreed to modify its business practices in the Play Store. Our expectation is that this will truly open competition for app stores on Android devices and allow developers to offer cheaper and more competitive pricing of their apps and in-app purchases to consumers.”
Consumers who are eligible for restitution do not have to submit a claim – they will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or ACH transfer.
Per the VT Attorney General’s Office, Google has also agreed to:
– Permit developers to steer consumers toward alternative, non-Google billing systems by advertising cheaper prices within their apps themselves for at least five years.
– Not enter contracts that require the Play Store to the be the exclusive, pre-loaded app store on a device or home screen for at least five years.
– Allow the installation of third-party apps on Android phones from outside the Google Play Store for at least seven years.
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Categories: Business
Facial recognition is common place. We have all been subjected in airports, banks, casinos, government buildings and dozen of businesses. If a cassino can refuse admission to banned, card counters, then,Rite-Aid has equal right to ban shoplifters and other criminals. Don’t like it, take your business elsewhere. Suck It FTC.
Why do you believe it’s reliable? Because they say it is? Really?
People won’t be convicted based on it unless they rob the store using it. Yes, it is a flawed device.
This is more government overreach. A private (non-government) retailer should be able to use any legal means necessary to prevent crime at its stores. If that involves deploying AI facial recognition (or just very astute employees with photographic memories), then so be it.
I would normally agree with you, but this isn’t a private entity “in actuality”. They have various interminglings with government institutions, like most large corporations. I believe any corporation that benefits off the public wealth through the illegitimate or unequal use of force ,or subsidy/permit, shall be considered a quasi-public entity and be subject to all the laws of the constitution. I also believe that government purchasing 4th amendment data from private companies to skirt 4th amendment restrictions is an illegal act.
Now if this was truly a private entity, any damages done to customers as a result of their technology could easily be resolved with civil damages when injured customers sue in court. You are right, the government has no authority to tell a private business how to run their security. There might however, be a requirement to give due notice to customers if their image is being used for commercial gain too.
Surveillance is a double-edge sword. I think that now that criminals in government can easily be investigated by private citizens with all the surveillance access, and AI, they are scared that the tables have turned, and they will be called out for their crimes, or be held accountable by smart individuals that can now have too much power to watch and trace THEM. This might also be why they like the mask thing.
No you don’t get it….only the government can do that!!!! As long as it serves the purpose of putting J6ers in jail. It can not be used as a tool to prevent chaos in the streets and keep criminals accountable.
until recently Wal-Mart had those in all stores