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FBI Launches $1 Billion Nationwide Face Recognition System
MrSeb writes "The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun rolling out its new $1 billion biometric Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. In essence, NGI is a nationwide database of mugshots, iris scans, DNA records, voice samples, and other biometrics that will help the FBI identify and catch criminals — but it is how this biometric data is captured, through a nationwide network of cameras and photo databases, that is raising the eyebrows of privacy advocates. Until now, the FBI relied on IAFIS, a national fingerprint database that has long been due an overhaul. Over the last few months, the FBI has been pilot testing a face recognition system, which will soon be scaled up (PDF) until it's nationwide. In theory, this should result in much faster positive identifications of criminals and fewer unsolved cases. The problem is, the FBI hasn't guaranteed that the NGI will only use photos of known criminals. There may come a time when the NGI is filled with as many photos as possible, from as many sources as possible, of as many people as possible — criminal or otherwise. Imagine if the NGI had full access to every driving license and passport photo in the country — and DNA records kept by doctors, and iris scans kept by businesses. The FBI's NGI, if the right checks and balances aren't in place, could very easily become a tool that decimates civilian privacy and freedom."
sure, throw caution to the wind.
what's the worst that can happen?
(answer: nightmarish stuff. give it time and we'll learn. the hard way, no doubt, but we'll learn!)
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
There was a case in Dallas some years ago like this. The guy worked as a window installer. He moved somewhere in the North East. Some years later, the national fingerprint database went on-line and the local cops started running fingerprints that had been gathered at crime scenes through the system. The guy had been in the military, so his records were in the database and matched prints found in a burglary. The detectives working the case didn't care that there was a perfectly good explanation for his prints being at the scene. He ended up going back to Dallas, interrupting his family's lives until he could get it resolved. A plea bargain counts as a win; they didn't care if he was guilty or not.
I can mend the break of day, heal a broken heart, and provide temporary relief to nymphomaniacs.
Your mother just posted these hilarious shots of you with some nice hells angel bikers from when your car broke down. With your name tagged. Gee, I wonder if that will be entered into the database? I'm sure having you tagged as an associate of known criminals will aid you immensely.
There's only one juror 'ability' you need to know about: jury nullification. If you think the law is unjust then the accused is not guilty by definition.
Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A
Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012