[ecrea] Call for Papers - Face-Off: Facial Recognition Technologies & Humanity in an Era of Big Data

Call for Papers - Boston University Symposium

Face-Off: Facial Recognition Technologies and Humanity in an Era of Big Data

When: April 18, 2018
Where: Boston University
Florence and Chafetz Hillel House,
213 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215

Aim:

As facial recognition technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, and 
the presence of such devices proves ubiquitous in both public and 
private spheres, it is critical for researchers to examine the potential 
effects on both individuals and society as a whole.  To this end, the 
Division of Emerging Media Studies of Boston University’s College of 
Communication is holding an international symposium to bring together 
diverse perspectives from social scientists, philosophers, 
policy-makers, and computer scientists to explore the social, 
behavioral, and psychological dimensions of this new technological 
terrain. This unique collection of voices intends to illuminate the 
various and often competing dimensions of a challenging, complex area of 
research. Ultimately, it hopes to trace out the implications for 
society, and the choices that we must collectively and individually make.

Call for Papers:
The Division of Emerging Media Studies at Boston University invites 
research-based perspectives on facial recognition technology.  Limited 
travel support for presenters is available on an as-needed basis. Send 
abstracts to (krongard /at/ bu.edu) <mailto:(krongard /at/ bu.edu)>.

Symposium Format:
The symposium will be composed of brief research-based papers, in-depth 
scholarly panel discussions, and lively audience participation. The 
event will be live-streamed, and ongoing discourse via Twitter is 
anticipated.  As a clear understanding from an informed viewpoint is our 
goal, advocacy for particular partisan perspectives is discouraged.

Key Dates:
February 16th, 2018: Extended abstracts (~250 words) due to organizers. 
Send abstracts to (krongard /at/ bu.edu) <mailto:(krongard /at/ bu.edu)>.
March 2, 2018: Notification of acceptance decision.
March 30, 2018: Completed papers (~2500 words) due to organizers.
April 17, 2018: Welcome reception for speakers and panelists.
April 18, 2018: Symposium held at Boston University.

Overview

Efforts to understand facial expressions and determine identity through 
technological means has existed since at least the 1960s (Gates, 2011).  
Decades of technological advancement have amplified the capacity for 
machines to discern individual identities, and today, facial recognition 
technology offers promising opportunities in sundry domains; 
algorithmically- informed predictability can offer substantial benefits 
in policing and security (Ricanek & Boehnen, 2012), medicine (Tan, 
Gilani, Mayberry, Mian, Hunt, Walters, & Whitehouse, 2017), and 
commercial endeavors (Deng, Navarathna, Carr, Mandt, Yue, Matthews, & 
Mori, 2017).  However, these opportunities are simultaneously met with 
several challenges, such as the lack of regulation (Garvey, Bedoya, & 
Frankle, 2016), potential for flawed data through algorithmic bias 
(Introna, 2005; Introna & Wood, 2004), and infringements on personal 
privacy, particularly with the influx of photo sharing via social media 
platforms and resultant access to big data (Gasser, 2016; Mohapatra, 
2016; Nakar & Greenbaum, 2017; Shaw, 2012).

To more fully understand the complexities of facial recognition 
technology and its consequences, the Division of Emerging Media Studies 
at Boston University presents an international symposium, where scholars 
from a variety of fields will discuss the promises and perils.  An 
interdisciplinary, cross-cutting approach will help to facilitate an 
in-depth examination of the topic through paper presentations, panel 
discussions, and a poster session. The symposium will encourage the 
audience, both in-person and via virtual livestream, to participate 
actively with questions and debate.  The goal of the event is for 
participants to not only develop a deep understanding of the competing 
issues at play but also identify actionable next steps within their 
fields of study.

Practitioners, researchers, and noted scholars of facial recognition 
technology will be invited to present their work.  The Division of 
Emerging Media Studies invites additional perspectives through the 
peer-reviewed call for papers. Talks will be organized into panels, 
where each presenter will each briefly share their work, followed by an 
extended discussion among panelists.

International Scientific Advisory Board:
Chen, Yi-Fan – Miami University
Cushman, Ellen – Northeastern University
Floyd, Juliet – Boston University
Laugier, Sandra – Sorbonne University
Lim, Sun Sun – Singapore University of Technology & Design
Neff, Gina – Oxford University
Poiger, Ute – Northeastern University
Soysal, Zeynep – Boston University

For registration and additional information: http://www.bu.edu/com/face-off

Please contact Sarah Krongard at (krongard /at/ bu.edu) 
<mailto:(krongard /at/ bu.edu)> with any questions about the event.
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