Google Arts & Culture App Matches Faces to Artworks

Google has launched a new feature within its Arts & Culture app that uses facial recognition software to find artworks resembling user selfies. The app scans a database of over 1,200 museums across 70 countries and returns the best match with a similarity percentage. Available only in the US, Canada, Australia, and India, the feature has sparked a viral trend on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with celebrities also participating. Privacy concerns have been raised, particularly regarding the collection and use of biometric data. Google spokesperson Patrick Lenihan stated that selfies are not used for any purpose other than finding matches and are deleted after processing. The app is not available in Texas and Illinois, which have Biometric Information Privacy Acts requiring explicit consent for biometric data collection. The feature highlights ongoing debates about facial recognition technology and data privacy.