#Ice driver license facial recognition drivers
#Ice driver license facial recognition update
#Ice driver license facial recognition software

New documents reportedly show that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents used facial recognition to scan millions of Americans’ photos without their knowledge or consent by accessing state driver’s license databases. There are no federal or state laws that allow either ICE or the FBI to use this technology on DMV databases, and in some cases, states have privacy laws preventing it.ICE officials reportedly requested to look at databases in Washington, Vermont, and Utah, all states that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses.This is the first known instance of ICE using facial recognition to look through these databases.

New documents show that ICE and the FBI have been using facial recognition technology to scan millions of Americans’ photos through state driver’s license databases.

#Ice driver license facial recognition update

We will update this story when we hear back. ICE did not immediately respond to our request for comment on the Maryland licenses. Lawmakers should do their jobs and ban the use of this invasive, racially biased surveillance.” “Facial recognition is the perfect technology for tyranny. Then the government turned around and used that information to target them,” she said.

#Ice driver license facial recognition drivers

People obtained these drivers licenses because they were trying to follow the law and do the right thing. “This is a perfect example of the way that facial-recognition surveillance puts the most vulnerable members of our communities at risk.

#Ice driver license facial recognition software

The digital rights group Fight for the Future called for a complete ban on facial-recognition software last June, in part because of the technology’s alleged racial biases.Įvan Greer, the deputy director for Fight for the Future, told Digital Trends that Maryland lawmakers should ban this type of surveillance. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study from 2018 found that facial analysis software is more likely to misidentify people of color, particularly women of color. Those opposed to the use of facial recognition argue that the software is inherently racist against people of color. The Post previously reported last year that ICE and the FBI use facial recognition on drivers’ license photos in other states including Utah, Vermont, and Washington, but the issue with Maryland is that those undocumented immigrants are given an opportunity that most other states don’t provide, but it’s now apparaently being used against them. Through that database, ICE could match a person’s driver’s license photo to their name, address, and more. The Post reports that ICE officials logged nearly 100 sessions in Maryland’s driver’s license database since 2018. Since that state legislation passed, there have been more than 275,000 immigrant licenses issued in Maryland, which are all prone to these unauthorized facial-recognition searches. ICE is conducting these searches without approval from a court or the state. What’s troubling is that a piece of 2013 legislation allows Maryland to give out special driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, and ICE is reportedly targeting these licenses specifically. ICE has been using facial recognition specifically on driver’s license photos, according to The Washington Post. Fitbit Versa 3įacial-recognition software is being used by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on driver’s licenses given to undocumented immigrants in Maryland without approval.