Orwellian apps

January 10, 2025 9:15 AM

Does using the Google PhotoScan app supply your photos to facial recognition surveillance companies and databases?

I realize it might be impossible to know this for sure and the answer is probably "probably" but for the purposes of this question I'm looking for data-informed answers. Thanks!

posted by ojocaliente to Technology (5 answers total)

Response by poster: OP here editing question to add: Does the app do this more than does just having photos on your iphone and sharing them on social media or texting them etc.
posted by ojocaliente at 9:16 AM on January 10

Google itself is a facial recognition surveillance company and database.
posted by june_dodecahedron at 9:47 AM on January 10 [9 favorites]

Best answer: Privacy policy for Google Photos (which is what you're really asking about - that's where the scanner app stores scanned photos and where Google runs analytics on them)
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 12:09 PM on January 10 [1 favorite]

PhotoScan seems to work fine offline, I'm not sure it actually uploads anything to Google servers. Google Photos might, but I don't think it needs Google Photos installed.
posted by BungaDunga at 3:44 PM on January 10

Mod note: One deleted; snarky remark instead of actual answer. Don't do this, or risk being banned. Ask Me is only useful if we are helping to solve the problem / answer the question.
posted by taz (staff) at 12:16 AM on January 12