HP face tracking system fails to follow Black face

Hewlett Packard (HP) was accused of racism after a man complained in a video that its webcam facial tracking software successfully followed a white face to keep it centered, but failed to follow a black face.

The African American man, referred to as 'Desi,' demonstrated on a video how the tracking software in HP's MediaSmart computers would not follow his face but would track that of his white co-worker. 

The video garnered over 300,000 views and led to accusations of algorithmic bias and racism. It was also seen to raise questions about the inclusivity of emerging technologies more broadly.

HP attributed the issue to insufficient contrast detection in low-light conditions, and explained that its technology relied on algorithms measuring contrast intensity between eyes, upper cheeks, and nose. 

Critics suggested that the software had not been adequately tested or designed to account for diverse skin tones and lighting conditions.