Face recognition is probably underway in VA - when one has their pic taken for a driver's license, instructions are to look straight ahead and do not smile...Come to think of it, same for the pic COSTCO takes for my membership.
You're right regarding attitudes towards privacy - not only on Facebook, but also on Ihub you see pics of family members that in another time would be kept private, if for no other reason than to protect them from anyone who might want to do them harm.