A global collective representing 72 million individuals worldwide living with a facial difference has highlighted the serious discrimination experienced by its constituents when using AI-based facial recognition tools.
For many, face identification technology, which has grown exponentially over the last five to 10 years, has offered users both security and convenience when it comes to everything from unlocking a phone to uploading photos to social media and using electronic passport gates at the airport. However, like all AI-based systems, facial recognition tools are trained on vast data sets that are reflective of what are considered “normal” or “regular” facial features which means that anything unmatched to this criterion could be flagged as an error leaving the user unable to proceed with the operation. This, not only results in widespread inconvenience but can leave users with non-standard faces experiencing hurt and frustration by emphasizing their differences and making them feel less than human.
To highlight these important issues Face Equality International and its global alliance of non-profits this week launched the ‘Visibly Invisible’ campaign to make both tech companies, businesses and lawmakers sit up and pay attention.
The campaign is underpinned by survey research involving those living with facial differences arising from scarring, burns, reconstructive surgery, craniofacial conditions and various other congenital facial malformations. Though, at just 60, the sample size is relatively small the survey responses collected last year are detailed and insightful providing useful input into what remains a chronically under-discussed topic.
Identifying challenges
All in all, 32% of users reported difficulties uploading photos of themselves to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Tumblr and Snapchat. One user fed back, ‘I have had various photos rejected from upload to social media or given a “content warning”’ whilst another stated ‘Mentioned the skin condition is not for kids under 18.”
When it comes to banking apps, only 21% of those with facial differences surveyed felt that banking apps work every time for them. One user inputted, “Had one app (unable to remember name) that required a photo to set up a bank account that I was unable to use as it would not approve that I was human.” Another wrote, ‘I’ve given up trying and dread the day when that’s the only way I can bank independently.”
Whilst 12% of respondents said that e-passport gates never worked for them resulting in significant embarrassment and anxiety at the airport, 25% experienced difficulties using photo apps like Google Photos or Apple Photos and 22% of respondents reported being unable to consistently unlock their phone using their face due to their unique appearance.
Commenting on the research Phyllida Swift Face Equality International’s CEO said in a media statement, “Facial/visible difference is consistently an afterthought in the policies that should be designed to protect communities from the overt marginalization we know our stakeholders experience on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, actor and TV presenter Adam Pearson (pictured above) who lives with a facial disfigurement known as Neurofibromatosis and who recently starred in A Different Man alongside Sebastian Stan said, “My face is everywhere right now – movie screens, billboards, awards season shortlists. And yet, facial recognition software does not work on faces like mine.”
Face Equality International is urging that more research go into AI-powered facial recognition tools to fully comprehend the points of failure and other technological glitches that may be contributing to them. Further research also needs to be done on how the tools behave with people without facial differences to benchmark error points and frequency. This is of paramount importance because, in the coming years, the use of the technology will only become more widespread as it further proliferates into areas such as gaming, retail and employment vetting.
Another important hurdle that needs to be overcome is the legislative framework. Despite slowly being recognized as a disability under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, facial differences have for a long time sat outside traditional DEI and disability inclusion endeavors. This is because disability is often defined around functional impairments. Not everyone with a facial difference has these meaning that they can be marginalized in society by facing all of the discrimination and barriers associated with disability without any of the legal protections.
As is always the case with relatively nascent technologies, there is unlikely to be an overnight quick fix here. However, if nobody highlights these important and damaging exclusions right now then one is unlikely to arrive in the years to come either.
