Facebook Facial Recognition Better than FBI

Facebook Facial Recognition Better than FBI's

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Jul 08, 2014

On one side of the biometric playing field with have the FBI and on the other Facebook in a battle that the social platform seems to be winning when it comes to facial recognition. Not that these two entities are actually fighting against one another, but it’s basically a battle of technology when it comes to security in the United States, oh and trying to stay anonymous.

Facebook Facial Recognition Better than FBI'sThe FBI is planning to deploy Next Generation Identification (NGI), a holding tank of millions of photos in a central federal database that encompasses all 50 states by the end of the year and should be fully operational this summer. Sound like the takeover of Big Brother? Not exactly, because apparently NGI’s system isn’t as good as Facebook’s DeepFace system.

While NGI returns a ranked list of 50 possibilities, promising an 85% chance of returning the suspect’s name in the list, the DeepFace system boasts a 97% accuracy rate when given two pictures. So, what does this equate to? Well, the FBI’s system will let 1:7 suspects off the hook while Facebook’s system provides almost the same accuracy as a human sees.

The FBI’s system is expecting faces to work like fingerprints, where a single print provides enough data for a positive ID that’s strong enough to hold up in court, but automated systems are having a hard time keeping up with facial recognition. This could be partly because the picture quality that the FBI is using as most facial recognition systems require someone’s face to be photographed straight-on, which works great for mug shots but not so much for instances of spotting criminal faces through public surveillance cameras.

To be fair, Facebook does have a whole network worth of data, but it’s weird to see the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency getting outdone by a social network when it comes to biometrics.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • 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

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.