Google is working on new mobile application for face recognition

In the near future, a simple snapshot of your face could identify you and make your personal data available to others.

Google is working on a mobile application that would allow users to access personal information about someone simply by taking their picture and searching for it using an "image search engine".

In order to be identified by the software, people would have to check a box agreeing to give Google permission to access their online profile information and pictures, said Hartmut Neven, the Google engineering director for image-recognition development.

Currently, the profile of a user includes the name, phone number and e-mail address of that person. However, Google has not said what personal data might be displayed once a person is identified by its facial-recognition system.

A Google spokesman said the company has not decided on any release timeline yet, as they are still working to carefully develop the privacy models that would give users access to pictures and profile information available online. He said Google is "extra carefull" when it comes to dealing with "privacy issues".

Only time will tell how invasive this technology will prove to be. Until then, be carefull what information you make public and remember that under certain circumstances, ANYTHING posted online can easily become public information for other people to see.