Biometric Privacy

Issues surrounding the collection, storage, and use of biometric data such as facial recognition, fingerprints, and other identity verification technologies.

Reading List

Damage Control

Fedware: How Government Apps Became National Spyware

Mar 30, 2026678

Federal mobile apps function as invasive surveillance tools that collect biometrics and location data to feed an interconnected government tracking ecosystem.

Government Surveillance Surveillance Technology Data Privacy Biometric Privacy Civil Liberties

Damage Control

Juggalo Makeup: A Surprising Shield Against Facial Recognition

Mar 19, 2026262

Juggalo face paint can defeat 2D facial recognition by obscuring facial landmarks, though it remains vulnerable to 3D depth-sensing technology.

Facial Recognition Surveillance Technology Biometric Privacy Internet Culture

Damage Control

Meta's $2B Secret Lobbying for Device-Level Surveillance

Mar 17, 2026901

Meta is secretly spending billions to lobby for device-level surveillance laws that track user age while exempting its own platforms from the regulations.

Age Verification Surveillance Capitalism Data Privacy Corporate Accountability Biometric Privacy

Damage Control

The Watchers: Inside the OpenAI-Government Surveillance Machine

Feb 24, 2026657

An exposed codebase reveals that Persona and OpenAI have built a massive, automated identity surveillance system that feeds user biometrics and 'suspicious' activity directly to government intelligence agencies.

Government Surveillance AI Ethics Corporate Accountability Biometric Privacy

Damage Control

The Rise of the State-Corporate Panopticon

Feb 15, 2026937

The fusion of consumer smart-home technology and government power has created a pervasive surveillance state that has rendered personal privacy obsolete.

Government Surveillance Corporate Accountability Data Privacy Civil Liberties Biometric Privacy

Damage Control

Ring’s ‘lost dog’ AI ad ignites fears of a people-tracking surveillance network

Feb 11, 2026676

A feel-good lost-dog feature spotlights Ring’s growing surveillance network, raising fears it could easily evolve into people-tracking despite present guardrails.

Government Surveillance Smart Home Privacy Corporate Accountability Biometric Privacy

Damage Control

Discord to Enforce Global Age Checks in March with ‘Teen-by-Default’

Feb 9, 20262046

Discord will make all accounts teen-by-default in March, requiring face-based age estimation or an ID for full adult access while promising tighter privacy and minimal impact for most users.

Data Privacy Biometric Privacy Platform Policy Online Safety