Crime Fighter Google

Recently, Google alerted the authorities when its algorithms detected that a Gmail user was transmitting child pornography images. The cops then went on to arrest the man. A good thing, no doubt. But it makes one wonder how Google found the image? Are they opening every attachment in every mail? Don’t worry, it’s nothing that invasive. They use an algorithm created by (hold your breath) Microsoft!

“Google makes use of Microsoft's PhotoDNA technology to scan emails, and calculate a mathematical hash for an image of child sexual abuse that allows it to recognize photos automatically even if they have been altered. The tech is now also used by both Twitter and Facebook, after Microsoft donated it to the NCMEC in 2009.”`

But is this a slippery slope, wonder others? John Hawes, cyber security consultant asks:

“There will of course be some who see it as yet another sign of how the twin Big Brothers of state agencies and corporate behemoths have nothing better to do than delve into the private lives of all and sundry, looking for dirt.”

Or as Kevin Roose puts it:

 “Google's creepy data practices have helped police catch who they think is an even bigger creep.”

No wonder then that Google issued a statement clarifying what it does and what it does not do:

“It is important to remember that we only use this technology to identify child sexual abuse imagery, not other email content that could be associated with criminal activity (for example using email to plot a burglary).”

I kid you not. That is what Google said!

Matt Buchanan had a field day based on Google’s clarification. He wrote:

-         “Gmail: a secure choice for plotting assassinations and most other crimes since 2004.”

-         “A reminder that Google Precog is only in effect for certain crimes”

(In case you were wondering, “precogs” were the 3 psychics in the Tom Cruise movie, Minority Report, who could predict a crime before it happened.)

There is no right answer in this debate. As Kevin Roose said:

“Clearly, if perfect technology to detect child porn in transit exists, there's a strong moral case for using it. The big question, though, is where Google should draw the line.”

Now, if only we had a precog to predict where Google will draw the line...