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

[Sarah Krongard]

*Apologies for cross-posting*

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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.

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.
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 with any questions about
the event.

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Sarah Krongard
Doctoral Student
College of Communication, Division of Emerging Media Studies
Boston University
508.361.9304 | krongard at bu.edu | @sarahkrongard
<https://twitter.com/sarahkrongard>