back to article Facebook serves up shaved, pierced, tattooed 'butterfly' as CAPTCHA

Reg reader Mike W has sent us something rather interesting from Facebook, which asked him to prove he's human with the test below that asked him to pick out pictures of butterflies. We'll explain the white space at grid position A2 after the image. Facebook Butterfly Captcha Back to that white space, which we excised because …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ahhh, machine learning

    It's got quite a way to go.

    Also, you should have asked how many times this image was displayed, broken down by age, declared gender, and sexual orientation.

    1. Bob Vistakin
      Pint

      Re: Ahhh, machine learning

      These kind of gaffs, oddly about the same subject, happen all the time.

      1. tomban

        Re: Ahhh, machine learning

        Deckard: You're reading a magazine. You come across a full-page nude photo of a girl.

        Rachael: Is this testing whether I'm a replicant or a lesbian, Mr. Deckard?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Ahhh, machine learning

          "Deckard: You're reading a magazine. You come across a full-page nude photo of a girl.

          Rachael: Is this testing whether I'm a replicant or a lesbian, Mr. Deckard?"

          The film got that a bit wrong. The grumble fans of the 21st century would have said "what's a magazine?"

  2. Anonymous Blowhard

    Second row, fourth across

    Is that another pussy?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Second row, fourth across

      It certainly looks like a growler to me

      1. Preston Munchensonton
        Paris Hilton

        Re: Second row, fourth across

        Obviously, it's in the process of snapping.

      2. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
        Paris Hilton

        Re: Second row, fourth across

        A cute beaver would be preferable to a growling pussy

  3. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. TRT Silver badge

      It was tagged with incorrect labia.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Maybe our machine overlords are trying to tell facebook users something.

  5. frank ly

    The eye of the beholder

    Many years ago, (the best parts of my life are way behind me) I made a quick visit to the toilet when I arrived at a 'hip' restaurant-bar for a meal with friends. On the wall was a framed photograph, of a close-up of a human eye and my immediate impression was of an old sun-weathered farmer staring at me. The skin was wrinkled and the eyebrows were ragged; he had a large tear duct and the eye itself was remarkably clear with healthy blue iris and no blood vessels in the white of the eye. A very 'arty' picture, quite nice.

    I mentioned it to my friends as we had our meal. I was told to go and look at it again and turn my head ninety degrees to the left. It was an artificial eye in an unusual setting.

  6. OzBob

    Mom, is that you?

    This post is required, and must contain letters.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Next FB can start using b3ta's "female or shemale" quizzes

    and obviously block anyone who gets them all correct (the first capcha that blocks bots and eerie people)

    1. deive

      Re: Next FB can start using b3ta's "female or shemale" quizzes

      Haven't checked out b3ta for aaaages! Donno what would be worse that or "moomilk or manmilk"!

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    From the Notebook of Lazarus Long

    Little girls, like butterflies, need no excuse.

    1. Graham Marsden
      WTF?

      Re: From the Notebook of Lazarus Long

      Yeah, but he also says how much they look like orchids...

      ... that's a funny looking orchid!!

      1. kmac499

        Re: From the Notebook of Lazarus Long

        Tut Tut everyone knows the orchid euphemism is for use on the male side of the bed.

        Even to the point that the surgical operation for a well known gentlemans cancer is named a radical orchidectomy. Leaves a scar a bit like an appendix as the offending organ and associated plumbing is popped up and out through the abdomen.

        1. Loyal Commenter Silver badge

          Re: From the Notebook of Lazarus Long

          This is because medical terms come from Greek, and the Greek word for testicle is orchid. The flower is named after that, not the other way around, AFAIK.

  9. Paul 87

    Chances are as well the photo live(d) on someone's Facebook account without proper security settings and thus got grabbed up when FB searched for images close to being a butterfly

    1. Robert Helpmann??

      Chances are...

      And FB is too damn cheap to purchase images for use in this manner, just use whatever they happen to grab from anyone who happens to have an account with them.

  10. 27escape

    Its certainly not a butterfly

    So works well as part of the test

    1. Eddy Ito

      Re: Its certainly not a butterfly

      Are you sure? It looks to me that it could simply be a stage between hickory horny devil caterpillar and cliteronia regalis.

      1. Queasy Rider

        Re: Its certainly not a butterfly

        I apologize for inserting this comment near the top after reading 44 other comments, but El Reg's readership seems sadly misinformed where it comes to slang terms for a lady's outer parts. Instead of blaming a computer algorithm for misidentifying that picture, go to Reddit, subreddit Gone Wild, subreddit Labia Gone Wild, and you will plainly see (literally) a number of snaps clearly identified as butterflies. I would link directly to one but since the pictures are extremely NSFW I will leave it to you all to follow the final link posted.

  11. JimmyPage Silver badge
    Coat

    There is a joke there ... somewhere

    about FB users and (trails off) ....

  12. Forget It

    just another face on the pillow case for a Butterfly collector

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Whn2eQGSM

    Paul Weller, Jam

    1. Proud Father

      Oh wow, I remember that. Best 45 single 'B' side ever IMO.

      Yes I had that 45, yes I am that old.

  13. Phil W

    Machine recognition

    If, as is implied, the images used in the captcha were selected by a computer which matched them as being a butterfly then what is the point in using them?

    The whole point of captcha is to prevent forms being completed by automated computer systems, if the images are selected as being a butterfly by an automated system then surely another automated system could pick them out the larger set of butterfly and non-butterfly images as well, it would know it was looking for butterflies since it is identified in the question text.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Machine recognition

      "If, as is implied, the images used in the captcha were selected by a computer which matched them as being a butterfly then what is the point in using them?"

      I get the impression that captcha answers are also being used to train a recognition system. Previous ones have combined a set of distorted letters with a picture of a house number plate.

      In the case of the pictures here - there could be a range of certainty or uncertainty. Some of them it knows are definitely butterflies - and some are definitely not. Then there are the ones which its algorithms suggest might be butterflies.

      If an overwhelming majority of users give the same answer for an "undecided" element then the system can categorise that for future use.

    2. John Arthur
      FAIL

      Re: Machine recognition

      "If, as is implied, the images used in the captcha were selected by a computer which matched them as being a butterfly then what is the point in using them?"

      That is exactly the point. If machines selected all these pictures as butterflies then the machines would be unable to deal with this Captcha correctly. Only a human would be able to tell which ones are really butterflies.

      1. Phil W

        Re: Machine recognition

        Yes but the implication is that the set of valid butterfly images was also selected automatically, not just that the whole set was automatically selected as being butterflies.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      People are being used to make computer services appear more advanced than they are.

      People select those images.

      Mechanical Turks compete directly with software for money, and with other people. Some of those Turks are not trying to make a living at it or bring in much needed money but instead do it for fun.

      As a result many such "errors" can occur.

      If you are using the service you can pay a little extra to have the results checked by other Turks.

      People are being used to make computer services appear more advanced than they are.

  14. Cliff

    Good point, although maybe it was randomly selected as a 'not a butterfly' image

    if imagetoshow.type != butterfly then searchterm " 'pierced horned muff close-up'.

    Understandable mistake

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      You're probably right on the selection criteria but I do not think it is technically correct to use the word 'muff' in a mown context.

      And it's hideous, why do people have things like this done?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        And it's hideous, why do people have things like this done?

        More to the point, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. And I can't unsee it, but that's my fault.

        1. Hero Protagonist

          Re: And it's hideous, why do people have things like this done?

          If I encountered that in the wild I think I'd suddenly remember that I had an important meeting tomorrow morning, have to get up early, and make a hasty retreat

          1. ZippedyDooDah
            Devil

            Re: And it's hideous, why do people have things like this done?

            I've always wanted to French kiss a daemon.

        2. Hero Protagonist

          Re: And it's hideous, why do people have things like this done?

          I think if I encountered that in the wild I think I'd suddenly remember that I had an important meeting tomorrow morning, have to get up early, and make a hasty retreat

  15. Paw Bokenfohr

    But shouldn't a human actually look at the pictures, just once at least?

    Obviously so that they're not using computer recognition to test against computer recognition, effectively.

    But also, just to protect against this type of issue?

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Erm, wait a minute. If the images are selected by computer through image recognition what's to stop black hatters just running the same algorithms? Presumably the algorithms selecting the images also have metadata to work with which increases the accuracy and in this case they fell for an image tagged with butterfly. I wonder if there's a new sport to be had here, tagging up images wrongly to see if they appear in odd places. Oh the fun that could be had.

  17. Inventor of the Marmite Laser Silver badge

    All that fannying about

    Its obviously the work of a Consultant in the Use of New Technology

    1. TRT Silver badge

      Re: All that fannying about

      City University Network Team.

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Thank you...

    El Reg. We now have this image all archived for all time for future reference. After we get away from a place where NSFW images aren't accommodated (my home computer) we can view them and comment on them.

  19. John H Woods Silver badge

    Never mind Not Safe For Work ...

    ... that's Not Safe For Breakfast! ew.

  20. Happy Ranter
    Paris Hilton

    the most important question is...

    how many hit did the link to "the image" get?

    1. Jaffire
      Coat

      Re: the most important question is...

      At least one more... /perv

    2. Mark 85

      Re: the most important question is...

      And how many licks... err... likes? Enquiring minds and all that..

  21. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Manchine learning

    Using machine learning to identify images

    Just got a call from HR, I'll be back in a min....

  22. Amorous Cowherder
    Facepalm

    Pornography and minors

    I'm curious. If the minimum age for Facebook sign-up is 13 and this image was shown to a 13 year old, could Facebook be sued for showing pornographic material to a minor?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Pornography and minors

      Would a naive 13 year old know what it was? Is something pornographic if an innocent person wouldn't know it was? The old obscenity test of "tending to deprave and corrupt" then wouldn't apply.

    2. Grikath

      Re: Pornography and minors

      Ummm... the average 13 year old is usually quite adept at finding pr0n on his/her own..

      Not sure if this one would fall under "pornography" though. There's a good chance this particular one was lifted from a tattoo/piercing site, and labelled as "art".

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Pornography and minors

        "Ummm... the average 13 year old is usually quite adept at finding pr0n on his/her own.."

        The proverbial wind-blown hedge is apparently still a going concern. Yesterday I tidied up what looked like a TV magazine partly under my back fence. Turned out to be two magazines of a very graphic nature. It's been visible under the fence for a few days - so it is fortunate that the neighbours' pre-teens hadn't found it - assuming they didn't put it there for safe-keeping.

    3. Old Handle

      Re: Pornography and minors

      I couldn't swear to it, but I'd except the relevant law has a "knowingly" in there somewhere, so they're probably okay.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Pornography and minors

        You'd expect the word Knowingly in there, but increasingly British laws don't include it. Got to distract people from ... I mean got to keep children safe.

        Vote 1d6.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Pornography and minors

          "You'd expect the word Knowingly in there, but increasingly British laws don't include it"

          Some single issue groups and State agencies want summary convictions because they "just know" that people are guilty of a thought crime. However - proving "intent" is apparently too hard in many cases - so trying to drop the troublesome word from new laws appears to be a favourite tactic.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Pornography and minors

            "Some single issue groups and State agencies want summary convictions because they "just know" that people are guilty of a thought crime."

            Hmm...

            Naah, I'm going to go with them trying to distract people from their own crimes.

  23. TRT Silver badge

    That's a rather unusual return when...

    I was searching for "curtain rings"

  24. Stevie

    Bah!

    A wonderful way for the religious right to enforce abstinence. I applaud the owner on going the extra mile in the cause of aversion therapy.

  25. Eddy Ito
    Coat

    Pity, with that tattoo my new Apple watch app, 'Tap this', likely won't work for her.

  26. Pirate Dave Silver badge
    Pirate

    The tattoo

    I'm not into the ink life, but is that tat meant to be a "welcome" or a "warning" to visitors? I mean, geez, think about seeing that for the first time at the end of a night of boozing...gives "going down" a whole new meaning...

    1. TRT Silver badge

      Re: The tattoo

      I heard from a colleague in the hospital that they once had a lady in for surgery who had green dyed pubes and a tattoo across the top of it reading "Keep off the grass".

      When the lady woke up, the theatre nurse had written across her belly in surgical marker pen "Sorry, we had to mow the lawn."

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The tattoo

      >think about seeing that for the first time at the end of a night

      Always cop a feel before then, there might be even more down there than just a tattoo and a few rings.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: The tattoo

        "[...] there might be even more down there than just a tattoo and a few rings."

        Isn't there supposed to be mandatory labelling "Caution: may contain nuts"?

  27. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    ???

    It's just a pierced vagina, isn't it? Or am I missing something? What's the big deal?

    1. theOtherJT Silver badge

      Re: ???

      People who aren't used to bodymods can get a bit worked up about such things. Leave them to snigger and make faces for a bit, they'll get over it.

      1. Stevie

        Re: ???

        "People who aren't used to bodymods can get a bit worked up about such things. Leave them to snigger and make faces for a bit, they'll get over it."

        Nonono, I love the shaved look and the rings, it's the depiction of the demon that says "keep out".

        I reckon for the internet win you'd have to go with the same art composition but use a Gug as the depicted subject.

        Or the Mouth of Sauron. That would work too.

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

  28. stringyfloppy

    I'm certain Facebook deliberately delivered that specific photo to the user.

  29. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    They need to amend their config...

    ShowButterflies=true

    SmileOrientation=horizontal # Note: never set to vertical in production - AC.

    ...

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oddly enough, I was expecting a different image that I've previously seen floating around the net, which does depict a butterfly of sorts.

  31. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "It's just a pierced vagina, isn't it?"

    No, it's a vulva. And by the look of it she wouldn't be able to part her labia enough to see her vagina.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      > "It's just a pierced vagina, isn't it?"

      > No, it's a vulva.

      OK, cheers, anatomy has never been my strong point. Now I totally understand what all the commotion was about.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Doesn't look Swedish

      Oh, hang on, I thought you said Volvo.

  32. Camilla Smythe

    Yew!!1!!

    I was expecting some creative Labia Art, that would have to hurt, rather than some No Entry bits of Metal headlined by a Gateway To Hell tattoo done by Fat Slob 'Up Close and Personal' Tattoo Bob.

    Still.. whatever Paints Your Wagon.

    Strange to say this afternoon I uploaded a cat picture to one of the picture hosting services in a misplaced effort to explain html things and then modified the index.html and my browser was redirected to a caching proxy server....

    Server: cat factory 1.0

    Presumably FaceBook is using their own 'image guessing' software and pictures posted to their own servers in order to create their 'Captchas'.

    Hopefully the poster of the Fanny Armoury involved had set their, lack of 'privacy', permissions up to avoid that sort of intrusion.. Then again, apparently not or rather the option was not available or it was ignored.

    I hope she sues them.

  33. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    Arrogance

    This basically implies that FB think they have an algorithm that chooses pictures that are used to prove you are human is good enough to pick those pictures. The implication seems to be that they think their algo is good enough to *be* human. What kind of arrogant twat really thinks they are a good enough programmer (amongst other disciplines) to do that?

    A human, with epic myopia, on a really bad day, with a screaming hangover, distracted by a nuclear war breaking out next door, might, by accident, click on that image thinking it's a butterfly. Only if it is scaled down to 15x15 pixels though ...

  34. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Mechanical Turk Humour

    Funny, but if the company had paid for a more through vetting of the results (by yet more humans) it would have been avoided.

  35. jake Silver badge

    ::heh::

    http://www.songlyrics.com/cramps/mama-oo-pow-pow-lyrics/

    http://www.songlyrics.com/the-cramps/daisys-up-your-butterfly-lyrics/

    Clearly, the kids at farcebook can't see before the year 2000.

    Rest in peace, Lux. Thanks for the entertainment over the years, Ivy.

  36. WillbeIT
    Thumb Up

    Ahh the machines

    I once got a Qantas booking reference of 26CUNT . To be fair, the girl on the help line was extremely apologetic however none was really necessary. I have dined out on it for years

  37. earl grey
    Trollface

    for some reason the old Timex watch commercial pops up

    You know: "takes a licking and keeps on ticking"

    I dunno where my head is lately.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: for some reason the old Timex watch commercial pops up

      You know: "takes a licking and keeps on ticking"

      Some "adult" mag back then did the very cartoon you're suggesting.

  38. Allan George Dyer

    At least 2 Facebook accounts use that as their profile picture... though they could both be created by the same person.

    Perhaps Facebook thought they could safely select "not butterflies" from profile pictures?

  39. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Why am I reminded of this:

    "Oh yeah. But he's got some quality control problems. He can detect porn but he can't detect what kind of porn - which can be a little disturbing at times. For instance last week when one of our part timers discovered a fetish for geriatrics."

    ­— The name's BOFH - James BOFH

    Seems Facebook's image tagging has the same problem.

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