That sounds like a distinction without a difference.

I look at a photo, my brain tells me the photo is of "Bob", he's caucasian, male, with brown eyes. I enter this information in a spreadsheet.

Google algorithm looks at a photo, algorithm tells me the photo is of "Bob", he's caucasian, male, with brown eyes. I enter this data in a spreadsheet.

All Google has done is automate a process we were already capable of doing manually.

Edit - in my mind, the problem/question is people using photos commercially (or granting Google the rights to use commercially) photos they don't have legal rights to use that way. This would mostly apply to photos taken in private places. Photos taken in public can usually be used commercially by default.

Would the photographer be allowed to identify using your face? This is pretty commonly done in newspapers.