Facebook/Google data mining serial numbers

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  • ArcadiaGP

    Wanderer
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    11   0   0
    Jun 15, 2009
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    Indianapolis
    To clarify, this is object character recognition, and isn't specifically targeting firearms... nor is there any reason to believe that they are filing these serials anywhere with ties to firearms.

    But it's certainly one way the technology can be misused. I generally hide serials when posting gun pics, probably not a bad practice.
     

    eldirector

    Grandmaster
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    10   0   0
    Apr 29, 2009
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    Brownsburg, IN
    Interesting. Article also mentions license plates. Google and FB are most certainly performing "recognition" on absolutely every character they encounter in an image, as well as any other image characteristic.

    Try using Googles image search (https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&ogbl) sometime. Upload an image, and find other similar images.

    While it says you cannot get personal info from a gun's serial number, you most certainly CAN get some public info. For example, I searched for my own license plate number. Didn't find my car (whew!), but did find other images of other cars. Those images were on someone's social media, so now I have a name, location, type of car they drive, and a whole host of other info.

    So, yeah, using a photo to "get around" posting text does no good. It is all indexed and searchable.
     

    JettaKnight

    Я з Україною
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    Oct 13, 2010
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    This has less to do with firearms than just general loss of perceived privacy.


    It's almost as if what's public is... public.

    Google has made what was once considered impossible to be possible. Anything public (i.e. where you drive) can be be accessed by anyone instantly.
     
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 7, 2011
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    https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...12AiGk78h6dZ6s


    Guess I will be documenting my guns with my digital camera instead of my phone camera so the photos don't go to the cloud!!

    If you keep it on your computer.
    Is alreay open to the world.
    I have pictures I took off the internet of actress Dana Delany.
    I retouched them.
    I removed a lot of clutter in the PHOTOS.
    About 6 months later.
    I revisited her site.
    I found all my retouched photos.
    Now when I do anything private (firearms).
    I download onto an external hard drive.
    Then I delete everything off the computer.
     

    Kirk Freeman

    Grandmaster
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    8   0   0
    Mar 9, 2008
    47,969
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    Lafayette, Indiana
    INGO: "zOMG, Zuckerberg knows the serial numbers of my guns!" *runs around conference table with hair on fire*

    Kirk: *sips coffee* "Why aren't you people putting fake serial numbers on your guns and posting them on Facebook to create a blizzard of chaff."

    INGO: *blinking*
     

    JettaKnight

    Я з Україною
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    6   0   0
    Oct 13, 2010
    26,517
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    If you keep it on your computer.
    Is alreay open to the world.
    I have pictures I took off the internet of actress Dana Delany.
    I retouched them.
    I removed a lot of clutter in the PHOTOS.

    About 6 months later.
    I revisited her site.
    I found all my retouched photos.
    Now when I do anything private (firearms).
    I download onto an external hard drive.
    Then I delete everything off the computer.

    giphy.gif
     

    ccha8778

    Plinker
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    0   0   0
    Oct 23, 2019
    56
    6
    The Region
    I just watched Joe Rogan's podcast with Edward Snowden... makes me want to go back to a flip phone and take no pictures of my weapons.
     

    russc2542

    Master
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    24   0   0
    Oct 24, 2015
    2,111
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    Columbus
    They aren't creating a searchable database of firearms, license plates, etc... they're just forming the framework to use "public" info so they don't need to make one. After all, if you aren't specifically making said database there are no legal concerns because you aren't actually doing it.;)
     

    Mgderf

    Grandmaster
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    43   0   0
    May 30, 2009
    17,877
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    Lafayette
    INGO: "zOMG, Zuckerberg knows the serial numbers of my guns!" *runs around conference table with hair on fire*

    Kirk: *sips coffee* "Why aren't you people putting fake serial numbers on your guns and posting them on Facebook to create a blizzard of chaff."

    INGO: *blinking*

    :lmfao:Keystone Cops...
    I can almost see it...

    Be careful though,
    I seem to remember someone on here saying,
    "A confused cop is an arresty cop"
     

    Methane Herder

    Sharpshooter
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    0   0   0
    Jan 17, 2013
    601
    63
    Pitchfork Union
    INGO: "zOMG, Zuckerberg knows the serial numbers of my guns!" *runs around conference table with hair on fire*

    Kirk: *sips coffee* "Why aren't you people putting fake serial numbers on your guns and posting them on Facebook to create a blizzard of chaff."

    INGO: *blinking*

    Why stop there?
    Recipe for amusement:
    Take one old draftsman with access to AutoCad and Adobe standard.
    Take juicy firearm photo that includes S/N.
    Cut and paste a satirical S/N - Something like "Zuckerberg $u(k$ 12345 D0&ke D!(k$" - on every firearm photo they post.

    MH
     
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