FBI Facial Recognition Database Contains Images of the Innocent

FBI Facial Recognition Database Contains Images of the Innocent

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Apr 15, 2014

Documents obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation discovered that the massive facial recognition database, Next Generation Identification (NGI), FBI Facial Recognition Database Contains Images of the Innocentcurrently being built by the FBI will have 52 million photos by 2015. That’s 36 million more photos than the database had in the middle of 2013! Besides that, 4.3 million images included in this database were obtained for “non-criminal purposes.” Guess Big Brother is always watching…even the innocent.

It’s not exactly clear where the photos came from, but it is speculated that jobs requiring a background check, fingerprints or an identification photo sent them to the FBI.

NGI will have both criminal and non-criminal records side-by-side, which is different from the FBI’s fingerprint database that kept them separate. Any searches ran will query the entire database so that even those who haven’t been arrested for a crime could have their facial images pop up. (I sure hope the FBI agent doesn’t misread an image, seeing a non-criminal as a criminal! Case of mistaken identity?!)

Facial recognition seems to be a dual-edged sword when it comes to privacy issues. This technology can improve lives, but it can also be seen as an invasion of privacy. In the case of the FBI’s NGI database, I feel that if a person is innocent, then they shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but I can say that I have a problem with my facial image being displayed side-by-side with criminals. Maybe the FBI needs to consider keeping criminal images and non-criminal images separate.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.