Google’s Contractors Are Using Questionable Methods For The Pixel 4’s Facial Recognition

One of the upcoming features of the Google Pixel 4 smartphones is facial unlock. We’re not sure whether or not it will be on par with Apple’s Face ID, but from the sound of it, Google is working pretty hard at developing their own system. In fact, in July it was reported that Google was paying people on the streets $5 if they could scan their faces.

That already feels slightly iffy but it turns out that some of the data collection practices by Google’s contractors are slightly worrying and questionable. According to a report from the New York Daily News, it has been revealed that Google’s contractors have been targeting homeless people as well as tricking college students into recording their faces.

One of the publication’s sources, who is an ex-staff for one of Google’s contractors, was quoted as saying, “They said to target homeless people because they’re the least likely to say anything to the media. The homeless people didn’t know what was going on at all.” The report claims that they just told the homeless people that they worked for Google but stopped short of saying what it was that they were doing.

To be fair, Google might not necessarily have been aware that some of their contractors were using questionable methods to obtain this data on their behalf. The company has yet to comment on the report.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Google, google pixel 4, Privacy