ACLU logo

ACLU Sues Justice Department, FBI For Records Showing Agencies’ Use of Facial Recognition Software

The ACLU’s lawsuit is the most recent development in a growing debate over regulation of facial recognition use by law enforcement.

In the latest escalation of the debate over law enforcement use of facial recognition technology, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Justice Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI on Thursday for records showing how the agencies use facial recognition software.

Arguing that the government has secretly rolled out a surveillance technology program without regulation or public knowledge, a group of ACLU attorneys asked a federal court in Massachusetts to force the agencies to release a number of documents regarding their use of the software.

That information includes how the government uses and audits the software, how officials communicate with security companies providing facial recognition capabilities and what internal guidelines that the agencies follow.

“Production of these records is important to assist the public in understanding the government’s use of highly invasive biometric identification and tracking technologies,” the attorneys wrote in their complaint. “These technologies have the potential to enable undetectable, persistent, and suspicionless surveillance on an unprecedented scale.”

The attorneys added that the surveillance system could permit the government to track people’s movements and associations in “ways that threaten core constitutional values.” The ACLU has been at the forefront in criticizing the accuracy and widespread use of facial recognition software, supporting efforts in California and across the country to ban its use by police departments, government agencies and private companies.

As of now, the FBI has access to more than 640 million facial photos, many of which are collected from state driver’s license databases, in a searchable database. More than 390,000 facial recognition searches have been recorded by local, state and federal investigators since 2011, The Washington Post reported.

The complaint was filed after federal agencies did not respond to records requests filed by the ACLU in January under the Freedom of Information Act, according to the attorneys.

Kade Crockford, the director of the ACLU of Massachusetts Technology for Liberty Project, wrote in a blog post that the group’s concerns about facial recognition range from its higher rates of inaccuracy in identifying people of color to the government’s lack of answers about how it decides to use the tech to identify crime suspects.

“This dystopian surveillance technology threatens to fundamentally alter our free society into one where we’re treated as suspects to be tracked and monitored by the government 24/7," Crockford wrote. 

Officials representing law enforcement groups and security companies have urged regulation over outright bans of the technology. In the past month, several industry groups and police organizations sent letters to Congressional representatives outlining the history of facial recognition and potential areas for regulation, including civil liberties protections.

Regulation from Congress may be coming soon. Democratic representatives have already introduced legislation banning biometric technology from federal public housing, and the late Rep. Elijah Cummings had led several hearings about the topic earlier this year.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • 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.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities