[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – A government regulator said the FBI had access to about 640 million photographs – including driver's licenses, passports and drug photos – that can be researched with the help of technology. facial recognition.
The figure shows how technology is becoming an increasingly powerful tool of repression, but also raises fears about the authorities' risk of encroaching on the lives of Americans. The Government Accountability Office reported during a hearing before Congress that Democrats and Republicans had asked questions about the use of technology.
The FBI operates a database known as the Interstate Photo System, which can assist law enforcement officials at the federal, regional, and local levels. It contains about 36 million photographs, according to Gretta Goodwin of GAO.
But given office contracts giving access to driver's licenses in 21 states and its use of photos and other databases, the FBI has access to about 640 million photographs, Goodwin told parliament at the time. hearing of the House Oversight Committee.
Kimberly Del Greco, deputy assistant director of the FBI, said the office enforces strict rules regarding the use of facial recognition. She said this drug is only used when an FBI investigation or assessment is underway, which may precede a formal investigation. When it uses state databases, the FBI submits a so-called "probe photo", and then states search for a list of potential candidates to be examined by qualified federal agents.
"Facial recognition is a tool that, when used properly, can significantly improve the capabilities of law enforcement and protect public safety," she said.
Dozens of civil liberties advocates have called on lawmakers this week to implement a temporary federal moratorium on facial recognition technology.
"Lawmakers must put a stop to the use of this technology by law enforcement until Congress decides what are the possible uses, if any," Neema Singh said. Guliani, Senior Legislative Counselor at the American Civil Liberties Union.
[ad_2]
Source link