What is PimEyes, the powerful tool ending online anonymity?

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Bababam (1:02)

What is PimEyes? The powerful tool ending online anonymity.

Thanks for asking.

Launched by a Polish startup in 2017, PimEyes is a powerful facial recognition software tool, which uses reverse image search technology. Just like with Google Image Search, users can submit an image of a person's face, and PimEyes will find all images of that person online, providing links to the websites where they are located. It can be helpful for locating images that are difficult to find elsewhere, but there are also a whole host of privacy concerns. PimEyes has been labelled the most disturbing website on the internet, and a stalker's dream.

There are similarities with Clearview AI, which is notably used by the FBI to track fugitives. But one key difference is that while Clearview AI is limited to law enforcement, use of PimEyes is open to anyone in the world with an internet connection. What is facial recognition? In the 1960s, forensic police would identify individuals using a ruler and a pencil to draw reference points on their faces. With the advent of computers and artificial intelligence, facial identification is now performed by comparing a digital image or video to a database of individuals. Measurements which were previously done manually are now conducted in real time using digital data. For example, this is part of the system used by biometric passports when passing through airport security control. How does PimEyes work in practice? All you need to do is upload a photo of yourself directly on the website and initiate the search. Within a few seconds, a set of results are provided, including all the available photos of you on the internet. A notable exception is those featured on social media platforms, which don't appear as they have not granted permission for PimEyes to use them. The results are fairly accurate, but there may still be some errors. The first search is just an introduction to the tool, as it becomes a paid service afterwards, offering additional equally impressive features. For example, one of the stated purposes behind PimEyes is to allow users to remove unwanted photos of themselves from the internet. The company collaborates with a professional service to clean up the image at its source. So what's all the fuss about? The main concern is how PimEyes completely erodes online anonymity. The publicly accessible search engine can reveal a person's identity within a matter of seconds. Simply creating a pseudonym is no longer sufficient to remain anonymous. In November 2022, Civil Liberties Group Big Brother Watch submitted a legal complaint about PimEyes to the Information Commissioners Office for alleged unlawful processing of people's biometric data. It has described facial recognition technology as Orwellian and dystopian.

But PimEyes representatives have consistently said that the search engine doesn't store or index personal data. While our names don't appear prominently on PimEyes, in the wrong hands and with just a few searches, our identities can be easily found. There you have it.

Now you know what PimEyes is. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

Bababam.