Facebook Files Patent to Secretly Watch Users Through Webcam | Hacker News Reader

Facebook Files Patent to Secretly Watch Users Through Webcam

independent.co.uk

65 pointsowens9924 comments

Slightly OT, but explain to me again why this is legal:

> "We often seek patents for technology we never implement, and patents should not be taken as an indication of future plans,” said a Facebook spokesperson.

So can I just apply for a patent for that impossibly strong rope needed for space elevators and if anything should ever figure out how to build it, I can sue them?

(Though in this particular case, yes please, Facebook, by all means please get the patent and don't build it and make sure no one else can build it either)

«please, Facebook, by all means please get the patent and don't build it»

wow

"We often seek patents for technology we never implement, and patents should not be taken as an indication of future plans”

So, basically, WhatsApp story all over again(0)?

0. "No, dear EC, we won't and can't link WhatsApp and Facebook accounts". Few years later: "Oops".

Well you might not get the patent because you'd have to describe how to build it and then it would be apparent you could not so you would not get the patent.

But by that logic, woudn't Facebook have to reveal, in detail, the analysis pipeline they plan (or actually don't plan) to use to detect your emotions and link them to the content shown? They didn't do that, did they?

(The example is kind of absurd as that technology is pretty horrible, but reports about pre-emptive patents seem to crop up with some regularity)

It has to be doable. A sentiment analysis pipeline is doable and has been done in other contexts. The patent has to describe to someone skilled in the state of the art how to build the thing you want to patent. That's the whole point. You don't have to build it or sell whatever prototype you did build or use it but it has to be possible.

Zuckerberg sticks tape over his own webcam.[1] Privacy for me but not for thee?

[1] https://i.imgur.com/QaKmKHi.jpg

No one's stopping you from taping yr camera dawg

What is the tape on the side (near the capslock button) covering?

Microphone

Sticking a piece of black masking tape over webcams on my devices is pretty much a reflex reaction for me these days. EFF also sells a nice set of stickers for this exact purpose:

https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set

I think I have never actually used the front facing camera on my smartphone. Video conference calls on my laptop are so few and far between that removing and replacing a small bit of sticky tape is really not much of an inconvenience.

Again the problem is the microphone. Not the camera. And guess how many you've got on your desk...

It's scary isn't it? Not just how many are on your desk, but how many are around you. In your office, or home. The possibility of abuse is endless.

Even a broken clock gives the exact time twice a day.

As a professional community, we have uterly failed at giving a flying fuck about anything other than quarterly revenue (aka. upholding a basic ethical standard). But now, we can at least be hopeful that the biggest and meanest shark in town is going to sue into oblivion any other party that tries to spy on its customers; and over pattent infringement, nonetheless.

> The patent also details a new text-messaging platform that would detect how hard you type, and use that information to attempt to work out how you feel.

Unrelated, but are there any phone keyboards that interpret a hard press as uppercase and a soft press as lowercase?

(Relative to your average tap force)

Zuckerberg's been trying to highlight this webcam privacy issue for quite some time. I believe this may be his way of republicizing it while putting pressure (via patent) on those who may be using it.

it's hard to take this comment -- mysteriously upvoted to the top within minutes -- as anything other than corporate propaganda.

I've been noticing this a lot with HN Facebook posts. You'll always find a FB defender in the top comments.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14462785

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14393991

Zuckerberg has political ambitions perhaps he has hired a "correct the record" sort of firm for himself.

People who like things you don't must be shills?

I assure you that I am not affiliated in any way with Facebook or Mr. Zuckerberg. I simply expressed my opinion.

Facebook has morals? Surely you jest.

I think "Zuckerbergian" should replace the term "Orwellian" in the modern era.

This patent is 3 years old, obviously a "patent every idea you have" filing, and nothing in the story supports the headline "secret".

This story has no value.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com