How did the photo from Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin end up on my PhotoPass?

[Jon81uk]

Didn't know they had any facial recognition software going... May have to test that theory on the next trip by swapping magic bands with someone else in the group that look nothing like me and see if the pictures still show up.

If you are both in the same vehicle it won't make any difference. As it only logs which vehicle you are in to assign that vehicles photo to you (for example Splash Mountain sends you a picture of the whole log you are in).

I am not surethey use facial recognition, if anything it would be a double check, or to try and assign lost photos to someone.
EDIT to add: a quick google shows they may use facial recogition and it pre-dates MagicBands, if they do use it it was also used on the barcoded cards version of photopass.
It is used on the cruise line (http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/11/05/frequently-asked-questions-disney-cruise-line-photos/)

Do the on board photographers have any cool technology tricks?
Well, in addition to scanning your Key to the World card to link photos to your account, the photographers may also use facial recognition software. For example, during the Tracy Arm glacier viewing day of that Alaskan cruise, all the photographers were out on the deck taking photos of guests with the mountains and glacier in the background. At no point were we asked for our Key card on this day, yet all our pictures were successfully placed in our stateroom folder. It’s pretty nifty, and slightly creepy.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

The MagicBand doesn't quite track your location, there are long range readers (like the Mickey-heads) in the ceiling (or similar location) on the ride. So they know you've been on the ride and can link photos, but they aren't quite tracking locations everywhere.

That's correct and I wanted to add something a Cast Member said. I asked him if a child became lost in the parks could he be found with the MagicBand, assuming he or she was wearing it. I was told the MagicBands don't track your exact location, the Cast Members can only see if it was used for a FastPass+ and etc.

 

[Tom P.]

That's correct and I wanted to add something a Cast Member said. I asked him if a child became lost in the parks could he be found with the MagicBand, assuming he or she was wearing it. I was told the MagicBands don't track your exact location, the Cast Members can only see if it was used for a FastPass+ and etc.

The ability to track a lost child via MagicBand sounds like exactly the kind of thing parents would be simultaneously relieved and outraged by.

 

[ShoalFox]

Same thing happened with pictures from all of my rides this past summer, and I didn't even intend to buy any. I didn't know they were there until I got an e-mail saying my PhotoPass pictures were about to expire.

 

[Jon81uk]

That's correct and I wanted to add something a Cast Member said. I asked him if a child became lost in the parks could he be found with the MagicBand, assuming he or she was wearing it. I was told the MagicBands don't track your exact location, the Cast Members can only see if it was used for a FastPass+ and etc.

Which means the chance of tracking a child with a magicband is very low as an unaccompanied child trying to redeem a fastpass will be spotted as lost before they even scan the band. It's the equivalent to tracking someone by their credit card.