Homeland Security Finds Human Vetting More Effective than Computers

Homeland Security Finds Human Vetting More Effective than Computers

The words “extreme vetting” are part of our everyday vocabulary now that President Donald Trump has introduced not one, but two, executive orders on immigration from six particular countries. As explained by the President and his team, extreme vetting will hope to include the scanning of potential United States visitors’ social media accounts.

A study by the Department of Homeland Security this week revealed that in December 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ran a pilot scheme monitoring the social media accounts of visitors both manually and automatically.

The computer programs sued were not named in the report, but the tests were repeated in April and August of 2016 using different software.

“In reviewing the pilot, USCIS concluded that the tool was not a viable option for automated social media screening and that manual review was more effective at identifying accounts,” the report states.

The report based its findings on “low match confidence” because the resulting accounts identified by the software did not always match up with the applicant’s profiles.

The conclusion that old-fashioned methods work best could prove difficult for the DHS, as an army of workers would be required to monitor accounts of the millions of foreign nationals that visit the states each year. The department said that at this moment, neither the government nor the private sector “possessed the capabilities for large-scale social media screening.”

Social media screening began as voluntary submission under former-President Barack Obama, but President Trump wants to press ahead with screening all parts of a person’s identity in accordance with “extreme vetting.”

John Kelley, Secretary of Homeland Security, said that social media screening should be mandatory and that visitors should expect to have to provide passwords to their accounts.

The ACLU has since sent Kelly an open letter condemning plans to demand social media passwords. They point out that if the United States goes forth with such plans, other countries will feel pressure to follow suit, therefor putting American data at risk.

Featured

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.