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Federal agencies are planning to increase their use facial recognition technology, GAO has said, adding that agencies already are using it for a variety of purposes, including on their own employees for security purposes.
In a survey of the 24 Cabinet departments and largest independent agencies, GAO found that 18 either own such technology themselves or access it through other federal agencies, from state or local agencies or from commercial providers. Of those 16 use the technology for digital access or cybersecurity purposes, including 14 using it to allow personnel to unlock their agency-issued phones.
Sixteen agencies reported using FRT for digital access or cybersecurity purposes. Of these, 14 agencies authorized personnel to use FRT to unlock their agency-issued smartphones. Also, GSA and SSA reported testing FRT to verify identities of persons accessing government websites.
“Specifically, GSA and SSA used FRT to compare two images—a government photo identification and a live image of the individual—to verify the identity of an individual attempting to apply for an account. This FRT system may also conduct a check to detect if there is an attempt to subvert the FRT using a printed image or other non-live object. However, agency officials said that this FRT would not be deployed until additional testing under a range of conditions is completed,” a report said.
Further, HHS tested a system that agency personnel could use to unlock their laptops while NASA tested one to verify an employee’s identity by comparing a camera image with a photo on file if the employee forgot their badge, GAO said. Several others used it for purposes including to verify the identities of individuals receiving identification cards and temporary badges or to control access to secure facilities.
GAO said that other common uses include to generate leads in criminal investigations, such as identifying a person of interest, by comparing their image against mugshots; or to monitor or surveil locations to determine if an individual is present, such as someone on a watchlist, or to control access to a building or facility.
Ten of the agencies reported plans to expand their use of FRT through fiscal year 2023, for example for authenticating the identity of travelers, while the same number reported they are conducting research and development, for example to identify individuals wearing protective masks and to detect image manipulation.
The report follows testimony at a recent hearing focusing on federal law enforcement agencies at which GAO said that many of those agencies are at risk of violating privacy laws and of improperly disclosing details of investigations by failing to track their employees’ use of the technology owned by third parties.
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