A document has emerged which could have rather terrifying implications on privacy.
A patent filed by Facebook outlines technology it wants to introduce which would analyze your emotions.
So, while you think you’re innocently scrolling, reading, searching and maybe doing a little “investigation” into ex’s new girlfriends, Facebook really is watching you.
Footage would be collected through the device you’re using Facebook on; your phone or laptop for instance. Scarily, this uses cameras that aren’t turned on.
Technology would interpret your emotions and then content filtered through that matches your mood.
The patent is called “Techniques for emotion detection and content deliver.” It was found by CB Insights, an organization that works on market intelligence.
Having found the patent, CB Insights now describe it as an “ethical minefield.”
It doesn’t end there
It also sounds like Facebook are working on an emoji version of filters. A patent has been filed by Facebook called, “Augmenting text messages with emotion information.” It uses your typing pattern to tap into your mood.
If the user seems happy, more emojis are added and the font size increases. And yes, you’ve guessed it, your facial expression (seen through your camera) are used to interpret your mood.
Facebook tracks your feelings
It’s no secret Facebook is working on ways to increase targeted advertising. Products and services tap into your supposed “interests” based on what you’ve read before. “Emotion detection” technology is the next phase of this.
Canadian researcher Luke Stark from Dartmouth College told the CBC that, “Facebook uses ‘sentiment analysis’ techniques to analyze the words people use in their posts and assigns those words to an emotional score.”
“The other big way that Facebook is doing this is through the recent reaction buttons. So on a Facebook post there is a love button, a sad button, an angry button that lets users tag those posts with basic emotional states.”
