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Judd Heape, vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies, bravely smiled through the demo of the new "always on" camera feature of their new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. “Your phone’s front camera is always securely looking for your face, even if you don’t touch it or raise to wake it, ” he said. This (and more) is what's in store for you once the new processors make it into the flagships of various cellphone manufacturers. But why is the camera supposed to be always on and what about privacy? Or more generally put: Is convenience the one argument that trumps everything else? Am I just a little too oversensitive when I find this development rather alienating?
Naturally, Qualcomm believe their move to be well justified and even see security benefits: Imagine reading confidential messages on your phone while someone else suddenly watches over your shoulder. Thanks to the new feature, the phone will instantly lock itself or hide sensitive information the moment it recognizes another face. Still, the main argument is added comfort, i.e. the ability to unlock your device without ever touching or talking to it. This could, for example, come in handy when you're baking a cake, have your hands messy, but need to take another look at the recipe on your phone. Or when you're driving your car through unfamiliar terrain and only need to glance at your phone to instantly see a map of the region! While Qualcomm pitched "always on" with great verve and confidence, I had great difficulty getting my heart rate back to normal.
It seemed clear as daylight that the marketing buzz was missing the mark here. Sure, the ability to switch on your cellphone without touch or voice commands could come in handy, especially for handicapped users, but what about the elephant in the room, i.e. the privacy and surveillance nightmare? Remember the Google Glass disaster? Companies have tried many times to justify the large-scale collection of user data with convenience gains–conveniently skipping the part about detailed user profiles. And many users have obviously resigned to their fate. But how can anybody argue in favor of an always-on camera that watches our every move?
As expected, Qualcomm try to alleviate concerns by pointing to the already always-on microphones that respond to "Okay Google" or "Hey Siri" in most cellphones today–conveniently leaving out that these features are not only still controversial but need a "magic phrase" to trigger voice recognition (and are disabled on many devices). Google (not known for privacy-friendliness) even prominently added buttons and light signals to their Nest devices to quickly toggle microphones and visualize their operating states! So, in the future, your new Qualcomm-powered phone will lock itself or hide sensitive data when someone else watches, but what about yourself being watched all the time by your phone? In order to recognize you, the software will have to analyze your surroundings around the clock. Who watches the watchers? The benefits would have to be ginormous to outweigh this major drawback for me!
But what about security cameras or video-enabled doorbells? They are always on and invade our privacy too, right? That's a weak analogy, because, for one thing, we don't carry those devices around with us, and then they're not crammed with either artificial intelligence algorithms or personal data. We buy, install, and configure them for a specific purpose, while cellphones have become all-purpose always devices. That's why an always-on phone camera is beyond any reasonable scope and comparison. And then there's the argument that the software will be running fully locally so the accumulated data won't ever leave the device. Now, where have I heard that before? Oh right: Apple's CSAM scanner. Once again, I highly doubt Qualcomm would have much of a defense against a few calls from nosy intelligence agencies. Once the technology is there, third-party abuse can never be fully ruled out. Permanent camera access would also be a real gift to any malware author don't you think?
Would you like to see navigation hints only when you're looking?
Ziad Asghar, another Qualcomm manager, at least promised the option to fully or partially disable the feature. How generous! In the same breath, however, he pointed out that users would be unable to experience the full power and convenience of the new chip. Shame indeed! Reason enough for me to make myself a cup of tea and further muse about the situation. Naturally, cellphone manufacturers (Qualcomm is just a supplier, after all) don't have to enable this hardware-level feature. Provided common sense prevails, companies like Samsung will disable always-on face scanning at the hardware level so no other later installed app will be able to gain access. But there are some countries that look more favorably on 24-hour surveillance and will certainly welcome this technology with open arms!
The thought of taping over one's phone camera may be more prevalent in cellphone users in the future. Qualcomm are taking a highly controversial step and I can't wait to see how cellphone manufacturers and customers will respond. By now, you should be familiar with my opinion on the matter, but what about you? Are you looking forward to this new feature and are you willing to be filmed around the clock for that extra bit of convenience?
I don't consider myself a Luddite but it seems that far too much of our lives are dependent on our smartphones. I don't even own one (yet-my employer supplies my iPhone until I retire). Turning your phone into a Peeping Tom is so ridiculous I don't know where to begin...and we thought Echo eavesdropping on us was a problem...
No thanks.
In a word, NOPE. This just creates another surface for the hackers to attack to gain access. I don't need THAT much convenience. My fingerprint is fine, thanx.
Sven
I like Rick have no intention of buying a new phone that spies on me 24/7 it is bad enough as it is, like you said maybe future generations may find this to be great, me I find it appalling.
Before I retired, I was a abiding citizen, buying legal software, laser discs, DVD etc and subscribe to local
cable TV. These days, the major sw co. such as Adobe,
Microsoft and even some independent sw co. only rent
or yearly subscriptions, and Netflx etc only allow pay per
view, there are no option to save it for repeat viewing.
So I had abandon them but most US/EU pirate sites had
been shut down and I had go for the Chinese web sites
Mind u the Chinese govt is also getting serious on IP
but I can still find some useful websites around
Some of these web sites are comprehensive and
include travel guide, sw tips, forum, movies and TV
series (both China and US/EU content) and sections
on porno as well. Most req. a subs.fee which I cannot
pay as they use the Chinese payment system. but
there are visitors sections and I can download for
free or wait for a year to get the release.
Sometimes out of curosity, I browse the porno
section, and the voyeurism section is shocking
If I dont go and visit it, I had no idea such things
prevail almost in every country. it had clips from
the US/EU nude beach, hidden cam in Japan/Korea/
Thailand/China/SEAsia etc etc.
Apart from those tiny hidden security cameras
in male/female toilets, sauna, medical/massage
centres, from the angle and perspective, I am
quite sure the cameras are also from one's laptops,
handphones, and ANDROID TV & oother so called
smart devices (w-fi devices!)!
Some seem to be taken at the kitchen table level
and I belive from one's handphone placed on
kitchen counter.
Anyway to cut my comments short, check every
smart devices in your house. cover up the lens
or some tiny holes in these devices, and put
a box or some cover over your handphone.
Check the toilet u go to in public places (which
I do now even if I am a male as the one I used
often is for disabled people and it has plenty of
room to hide these devil things)
Dont belive in the sales talk to buy android TV,
smart fridges etc, be on the safe side.
In closing I must add my comments on Goggle/Facebook/MS Edge/Goggle chrome.
These are also devil items which are are forced to
use. In the past I can block out pop out in MS Expoleror but I cant do that in MS Edge and Chrome.
They both want to save my password and user name
for every web site I frequent, and imidate what I do
I had lost a few hundred dollars for oversold my
old shares a few mths back as Chrome prefilled
my sales order qty of my last trans. and I end up
oversold my shares. It is the same thing when I
switch to MS Edge. In our countries most govt
web sites have been optimsed for Chrome.
and our Infocomm authority has encouraged
every one and buz to use mobikle appl and
all banks/Credit cards had adopted OTP, this
is a killer for me as they all had 2 min time out
and my poor eyesight req. me to use a magmifying
glass to key in the OTP password. Our stock exchange
from next year will not send me printed copies
of my share holding, and I need to use the Govrt
OTP web service to access it to get the info.
I am seriously thinking of holding everything in
cash. Unfortunately I am not the only one, all those
in my age group and even some younger ones had
visonary problems (the young for looking at their
mobile phones even on MRT/bus or on the road
walking towards me or away from me).
is that the same in your country?
This reminds me of a very common situation these days. Developers are constantly looking to justify themselves by providing Solutions to non existent problems. How often these days do we see "enhancements" that are actually backward steps (oh the frustration !). My pet hate at the moment is with my LG (smart ?) TV. Someone thought it would be a good idea to splash a banner across my TV every 10 minutes telling me what channel I am watching..! WHY !!!!!
The worst part, as always, is that we have few ways of telling these Developers to leave well enough alone. Let us hope that Qualcomm gets the message - before it is too late !
I can't stop laughing at all of the situations I can talk about on this one.
Here's one.
How many people have dropped their cells into the, how shall we put this?, Waste Disposal Unit? Sounds good.
You have your, umm . . uhhh . . . well, YOU KNOW, hangin out. You are either proud . . or not.
I'll stop now. If you decide not to approve this, I will understand. LOL
I am going back to a land line. I am sick of all of this crap.
It's definitely a step too far. As for reading confidential messages on your device, why not wait until you're alone to check them? We are taking the invasion of privacy too lightly, without a word of protest.
Thanks for the article Sven. Unfortunately we gave up our right to privacy long, long ago.
Not only no, but hell no! But I am a person who doesn't live and die by cellphone. The feds should be putting a stop to this by making it an option if one so desires. However, the feds have vested interest in supporting this practice as we swirl into a totalitarian state that spy's on all actions of all residents.
no i am not it is as you said invasion of privacy.
Sven, Thank you! For the brilliant revue on the new Cell Phone (Big Brother's Watching) Information! I know we are being watched everywhere we go, anywhere we go by thousand's if not millions of cameras depending on where and how far your travailing about! For Honest people its some comforting to know that if something happens someone somewhere may at least know or see what happened to you, robbery, accident, or you just get lost! Help is not far away! BUT! Are we becoming so complacent with the "watchers" that we willingly give up are American rights and liberties'? I Think that a vast majority are! And don't even think about it?
I mean if when walking down the street I find a 10 Dollar bill! And no one is anywhere around to clam it? Normally well, finders keepers right? I mean I'm saying if someone dropped there wallet or some cash, you would, Or, I would stop and help the person pickup their cash and be happy to help them retrieve it. But, Your in a vacated area and no one is anywhere around, You pick up the 10 and take one more look and see no one, you just got 10 dollars richer! But! With this kind of surveillance I might find myself being sought by police for robbing someone! Or, Posted in the days news as a bad steeling person!
Because it will depend on the "Watchers" interpretation of what they saw and think I might have, Or, Haven't done? So, you just leave the 10 Doller Bill lay in the gutter right? This has endless complications and invasions of privacy just to open the door!
Then getting down to this "Spy Phone" I would never buy one if I could not Disable the camera! They already can turn the Microphone "ON" on your cell phone if they want to hear a conversation your having with, Well you know! So, now that can have the Video to go along with it? NO Thank you!!
Think about it!, I leave my cell by my bed at night on the charger and in case someone needs to reach me at 3:00 AM! But if I am with my significant better half, And lets say its our date night! (I think I have set the seen?) I throw the cat out of the room, and the Dog!!! (Ever have little black eyes look over the end of the bed when your with your wife?) and well You get it right? And the Watchers expect me to keep my cell phone in the bed room AFTER I through the Dog out?? Next thing you know you, A friend lets you know that you and your wife are now Porn Stars on the internet!!!
NO! I don't think so! and that just the fur around the edges! This will never happen! At least not for me! and a lot of people I know! It will bring trouble for any company that attempts to push this on people at least in the USofA!
I'm a retired Electronics Support field tech, I know how computer's work and how to make them! I know that the Little camera on the side of my PC or in the lid of my laptop has a little light (LED) that lights when ever power is applied to the camera to signify that the camera is ON and operating! This had been the law for many years! Even on your old video cameras! When ever you point a Video camera at anyone! There has to be an indicator light to let the person in front of the lens Know that it IS RECORDING! So, They may take the appropriate action if any? Just like when you call a company or anyone that is going to record the call, They have to notify you that you are being recorded!
Now there just going to by pass all that protection of our right to privacy and have are cell phones watch everything we do?? "NO" I don't think so...
Even software company's that protect your PC to make sure some hacker or spyware can't turn on your PC Video camera! and they want to charge you extra for making sure that does not happen! Again the little light next to the camera lens will come ON if any power is provided to the camera its self! So, If the light comes on you know the camera is ON! And the last thing we do is to put tape over the lens!!! I suppose I will have to do that on my cell phone now as well?
Well, For me, I will not buy a new cell phone unless I can disable that feature? Or, Buy a phone with NO Camera? Ether way I don't think people in this Country are going to take it! But, if they do? Then I guess I will not worry about it? And just get in line with all the rest of the Zombies'....
Thank you for letting me express my opinion and thoughts, It will be very interesting to see what takes place..
Take Care, Always Have FUN!!!! Rick...