How do you really feel? Feds apparently want to know
Technology that monitors facial expressions to read emotions is raising concerns among privacy advocates.
The psychologist who pioneered the study of expressions and emotions, Paul Ekman, advised one of the companies using the technology, but he is torn between the potential power of the data and the need to protect personal privacy, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports.
Ekman and other privacy advocates fear users of emotion-detecting software could use the technology without consent, or could come to incorrect conclusions based on the findings.
Police could use the software to read the emotions of crowds, the story says. Employers could use it to secretly monitor workers or job applicants. And some federal law enforcement agencies have already purchased the software for use in interrogations, according to the company that says it made the sale, Eyeris.
Eyeris declined to identify the law enforcement agencies that bought the technology.
So far, however, the software is mostly being used in market research. Ekman was hired by a company called Emotient Inc., which has used the technology to gauge consumers’ reactions as they try products made by Honda Motor Co. and Procter & Gamble.
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