AI Predicts Political Orientation from Expressionless Faces
Researchers have issued a warning that facial recognition technologies are more threatening than previously believed, posing significant privacy challenges. A recent study has demonstrated that AI can effectively predict a person’s political orientation based on images of their expressionless faces.
The study, published in the journal American Psychologist, reveals that an algorithm can accurately guess one’s political views as well as job interviews predict job success or alcohol consumption predicts aggressiveness. Lead author Michal Kosinski emphasizes that people often underestimate the amount of information they reveal when sharing images online.
“I think that people don’t realize how much they expose by simply putting a picture out there,” said Kosinski. “We know that people’s sexual orientation, political orientation, religious views should be protected. It used to be different. In the past, you could enter anybody’s Facebook account and see, for example, their political views, the likes, the pages they follow. But many years ago, Facebook closed this because it was clear for policymakers and Facebook and journalists that it is just not acceptable. It’s too dangerous,” he continues.
While Facebook has restricted this type of information sharing, Kosinski’s study demonstrates that AI can still access facial images and make inferences about political orientation. Kosinski notes that this study serves as a cautionary tale about the potential misuse of AI technology, which is widely accessible and often used in our everyday lives.
Privacy Concerns and Potential Abuses
The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for scholars, policymakers, and the public to address the potential risks of facial recognition technology to personal privacy. The authors emphasize that widespread biometric surveillance technologies are more threatening than previously thought and raise concerns about the potential for online mass persuasion campaigns influencing political views.
“Even crude estimates of people’s character traits can significantly improve the efficiency of online mass persuasion campaigns,” the authors write. “Scholars, the public, and policymakers should take notice and consider tightening policies regulating the recording and processing of facial images.”
As AI technology continues to advance, ongoing discussions and regulations are essential to balance innovation with the protection of individual privacy and democratic values.
