Slashdot Mirror
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."
The person who posted this story is a thought criminal. Report to the Ministry of Love immediately.
One more reason to not post stuff on Facebook.
The problem is that cops get points for arresting someone (catch the criminal).
They don't necessarily get points deducted for catching the wrong person.
This database will help them rack up points by finding someone who vaguely matches. All they need to do then is get them to "confess" (aka "plea bargain").
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
How long until Facebook and other considerably large photography aggregators get tapped for their "resources"?
During a 2010 presentationmade by the FBI’s Biometric Center of Intelligence, the FBI said the technology could be used for "identifying subjects in public databases."
Hello, Facebok!
Who thinks this will stop at just helping "the FBI identify and catch criminals"?
This is a bigger threat to privacy than anything in history.
First off the widely reported story is that the NGI will use public surveillance video and photos. The part about including DNA records from private practices is unsubstantiated. Now I for one do not have a problem with them using public surveillance or Driver's License ID's. If you go out in Public, you consent to being watched by the same public and by extension, the Government. It is completely acceptable and good for them to use this legally obtained data in an automated recongnition system. Yes there needs to be checks and balances but the problem doesn lie in the source of the images.
Selling T-Shirts saying, "I've got your false-positive right here..." with a picture of goat.se on the back...
I swear they give me mod points to shut me up.
...walking around outside with a brown paper bag over my head. NOW who's paranoid? FOOLS!!!
Also, shouldn't criminals who have served their entire sentence (including parole) be removed from this database?
Why would they want to do that? If they restored full citizenship to ex-cons and actually allowed them to lead productive lives as full-fledged members of society, drastically lowering the recidivism rate from desperate people that can't even get hired at McDonalds and see no choice but to go back to crime, then how are they going to keep all the prosecutors, judges, police, detention officers, wardens, etc. employed? I mean, for God's sake man, what about the stockholders for the private prison corporations? Who's thinking about them?
The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
We have had this in London for years.
"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"
Actually, it's just a more efficient method for the police state to spy on its own citizens . Such methods the Stazi could only dream of. Without the threat of Islamic "terrorism" such methods would never have been acceptable by the population. A relevant question to ask is, who is going to protect us from you?
AccountKiller
I have not checked all states and it probably does vary by state. but this is what I was able to find:
NEW YORK Penal Law 240.35 (4):
Being masked or in any manner disguised by unusual or unnatural attire or facial alteration, loiters, remains or congregates in a public place with other persons so masked or disguised, or knowingly permits or aids persons so masked or disguised to congregate in a public place; except that such conduct is not unlawful when it occurs in connection with a masquerade party or like entertainment if, when such entertainment is held in a city which has promulgated regulations in connection with such affairs, permission is first obtained from the police or other appropriate authorities; (National Lawyers Guild NYC Chapter paper on the anti-mask law)
CA Penal Code Section 185.
It shall be unlawful for any person to wear any mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or partial) for the purpose of:
One--Evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification
in the commission of any public offense.
Two--Concealment, flight, or escape, when charged with, arrested
for, or convicted of, any public offense.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
that's 2 states, so far. but two biggies. ymmv. offer void where prohibited by law. order by midnight tonite!
--
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
I fall more in the, "if you didn't do anything wrong you have nothing to worry about" camp.
And just what makes you thing that you are going to determine what's "wrong"?
Imagine if the NGI had full access to every driving license...
Let me stop you right there. You can imagine all you want, but I can't ever see the states ever agreeing to a shared ID database. Look at how many states refused to take part in the REAL ID law. At least half the states have flat out refused to comply. Do you think that more than three or four would ever agree to spending state money on an FBI project?
There are a lot of concerns being voiced, but come on folks... When has the FBI ever been used to track those with opposing political points of view?
The way the California code is worded seems to imply that simply wearing a mask is not a crime. It's only a violation if it can be proven that you were wearing a mask/disguise for the purpose of evading identification while 1) committing a public offense, or 2) if you have already been charged or convicted with an offense. In other words, they'd have to prove that you committed some other crime first.
If that's the case, the mask is simply a misdemeanor add-on to whatever your initial crime is, which seems pretty reasonable to me.
The NY one on the other hand sounds a bit scarier... masks are illegal unless you're having a costume party? If so, how did this become law?
I just found the box to change my sig. Um.... [timeless witticism].
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A
Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012