A federal watchdog reported Wednesday that the FBI did not properly conduct an accuracy test for its new facial recognition technology.
This 68-page report details the Government Accountability Office’s concerns regarding the privacy of millions of civilians who are added to the database.
The photos that are stored in the database can be taken from people’s driver’s licenses, mug shots, visa applications and passports.
The GAO says 411 million images have been collected for the use of law enforcement. The unit is called Facial Analysis, Comparison and Evaluation. It is able to request or search databases owned by the State and Defense Departments plus 16 states that have their own facial recognition tests.
The FBI and some other law enforcement agencies use the system to search for photos that can be used in criminal investigations.
Without an accuracy test, however, the Government Accountability Office is concerned that “errors may occur.”
The GAO suggests in its report that the FBI do an accuracy test of this technology in order to protect the privacy and civil liberties of civilians.
