A Norwegian regulator that the privacy of personal information in the need to watch, has launched an investigation into the facial recognition tool that Facebook uses. The supervisor wants to know what data Facebook stores.
Since the roll-out of the gezichtsherkenningsoftware on Facebook in June 2011 when, in particular, European regulators unrest arise about the possible consequences for the privacy. The software of the social-networking site recognizes faces in photos and suggests a name for when a person is detected. The tool is used for photos in groups to organize.
According to the Norwegian regulator is the facial recognition software of Facebook are very powerful, but it is unclear how the tool exactly works. Also want the Norwegians to know what data is stored in the Facebook databases. The supervisor is therefore started an investigation into the potential privacygevaren, reports Cnet.
Facebook states that it fully complies with European privacy laws. Users of the social networking site would be sufficient to be informed about the technology and there is, according to Facebook, an opt-out option.
It is not the first time that Facebook is under fire is to lie about his facial recognition tool; in Germany and Ireland, the company was also already in use by government agencies investigated due to potential violation of privacy.