ICE, FBI use driver’s license photos for facial recognition

The FBI and ICE are reportedly using driver’s license photos for facial recognition without consent. According to reports Monday, the two agencies compiled a facial recognition database of millions of people living in the U.S. between 2014 and 2017. 

ICE mined driver's license databases in Utah, Vermont and Washington using facial recognition technology to analyze millions of Americans' photos without their knowledge

• Records obtained by Georgetown Law researchers reveal how ICE officials requested access to DMV databases in Utah, Vermont and Washington
• Those states are among 13 that offer licenses to undocumented immigrants
• The practice of cataloging biometric data such as fingerprints and DNA from criminal suspects has long been used by law enforcement
• However, DMV records are far more intrusive given that they contain data for the vast majority of a state's residents, most of whom have no criminal record
• The records published over the weekend mark the first known instance of ICE using facial recognition technology to comb state driver's license databases
• A growing number of lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern that facial recognition technology is unreliable, intrusive and dangerous

The database was designed to help law enforcement agencies battle crime and deport illegal aliens. However, some congressional Democrats say facial recognition could violate — what they call — the civil rights of illegals. Meanwhile, Republicans have raised privacy concerns.

Some U.S. states and cities have banned the use of facial recognition for law enforcement purposes, and some lawmakers are concerned with possible abuses of the technology. 

Illegal Aliens in New York are panicking that they may be profiled based on new drivers license applications.

#NewYork #DriversLicense #Illegals #ICE #FacialRecognition  #Undocumented #FBI