ACLU is demanding Homeland Security, CBP, ICE, and TSA hand over records on facial recognition...

[nanoguy]

Why it matters: Government agencies are notoriously slippery when it comes to any attempt at probing their use of controversial technologies, but that won't stop the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from trying. Privacy advocates believe that facial recognition, in particular, can enable persistent, undetectable government surveillance on a massive scale that erodes everyone's expectations of privacy.

Back in December, the American Civil Liberties Union sued Homeland Security for its 'stingray' phone surveillance program that has long been in use by US' border protection and immigration offices with little transparency about the details, especially when it comes to privacy protections.

Now the ACLU is filing another lawsuit in a New York federal court, but this time it's targeting airports' face recognition program. The civil liberties group claims the agency is being too secretive considering the privacy implications of such a system. ACLU attorneys are demanding Homeland Security, ICE, CBP, and the TSA provide records related to the face-scanning software used and its exact purpose at US airports and along the border. They are hoping to uncover details about a technology they think raises "profound civil liberties concerns" and "can enable undetectable, persistent government surveillance on a massive scale."

It should raise concern that it's believed that Chinese tech giants like China Telecom, ZTE, and Dahua are shaping the United Nations' standards for facial recognition. These companies are prominent for proposals on specifications that would unify the kind of face, video and vehicle monitoring adopted for surveillance purposes around the world. It's also well known the Chinese government makes extensive use of the technology.

The Trump administration's face recognition program is controversial for a number of reasons. First of all, it's being fast-tracked despite concerns about accuracy, bias, and the possibility for false positives when trying to identify criminals. It's also unclear how the face recognition data is shared with state and local authorities, as well as third parties like airlines and commercial vendors.

If you're an American citizen, you should know you can opt out of the facial recognition program, and CBP's insistence on making it mandatory has so far been met with a mountain of resistance. But even so, it's important to make sure that there is little potential for data breaches, especially given the CBP's poor track record with protecting the data it collects.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the EU is considering tighter rules around facial recognition tech, so that citizens can have more control over the data generated and the way it is used by governments and corporate entities.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/84393-aclu-demanding-homeland-security-cbp-ice-tsa-hand.html

 

[Hexic]

Just the ACLU doing ACLU things. Moving on...

 

[Uncle Al]

I'm not a big fan of the ACLU but the direct intrusion of this Govt. into everyone's lives is simply unacceptable. They constantly preach that we need to give up a little freedom for more security but that "more security" never developed and their constant bending and breaking of the law is more and more evident. Most of those under 40 won't remember a time when the Govt. had to answer TO the people and if a police officer drew his weapon and fired he better have one hell of a good reason otherwise he/she was held to the same standards of law. When Govt stays within the confines of the law (legal warrants, etc.) the people are protected but as we've seen in recent history, when the law is ignored everyone is put at risk.

 

[psycros]

The American Communist Lawyers Union has done more to put violent felons back on the street than all the jailbreaks in history. They are close partners with the American Communist Party and major proponents of the no-borders socialist movement and 90% of everything they say is demonstrably false. Anyone with common sense wants the strongest possible security at the border where it matters most. We NEED to know who's coming and going from the country. False positives can be cleared up via more detailed investigation - the police have been empowered to stop and question people who match a suspect's description since forever. Besides, if the government does start accusing the wrong people the lawyers can have a field day suing the feds. For scumbags like the ACLU mass surveillance is job security!

 

[QuantumPhysics]

You have two options.

Wear a baseball cap, hoodie and sunglasses while leaving your smartphone and smartwatch at home.
Or...
Wear a Burqa.

 

[candle_86]

Let me spell it out to everyone so they understand. You have no expectation of privacy if your in a public setting. It's also been rules that Boarder Patrol and the TSA have broad powers including being able to suspend civil rights at the boarder in the interest of national security. The airport if it handled international flights is considered a boarder zone. You do.not have the right to not be photographed in public, you do not have the right to privacy in public.

 

[Evernessince]

Let me spell it out to everyone so they understand. You have no expectation of privacy if your in a public setting. It's also been rules that Boarder Patrol and the TSA have broad powers including being able to suspend civil rights at the boarder in the interest of national security. The airport if it handled international flights is considered a boarder zone. You do.not have the right to not be photographed in public, you do not have the right to privacy in public.

This sounds less like a democratic country you are detailing and more like Communist China. Continuing down this logical path, Social scores are next for Americans. Yay!

 

[candle_86]

This sounds less like a democratic country you are detailing and more like Communist China. Continuing down this logical path, Social scores are next for Americans. Yay!

No it's just common sense, what about being in public makes you think it's private?

 

[Evernessince]

No it's just common sense, what about being in public makes you think it's private?

I didn't realize having the expectation of the TSA sticking a wand up your rear was common sense. Last I checked people have an expectation of personal space. Let alone gathering of personal data for use in facial recognition and other types of software.

Being in public does not give them the right to your personal data. If you want to keep justifying that sort of thing, move to china.

 

[toooooot]

I have never seen a plastic surgery to ruin peoples faces so bad as in thumbnail picture.

 

[mbrowne5061]

The American Communist Lawyers Union has done more to put violent felons back on the street than all the jailbreaks in history. They are close partners with the American Communist Party and major proponents of the no-borders socialist movement and 90% of everything they say is demonstrably false. Anyone with common sense wants the strongest possible security at the border where it matters most. We NEED to know who's coming and going from the country. False positives can be cleared up via more detailed investigation - the police have been empowered to stop and question people who match a suspect's description since forever. Besides, if the government does start accusing the wrong people the lawyers can have a field day suing the feds. For scumbags like the ACLU mass surveillance is job security!

Can we update Goodwin's law to include communists as well?

 

[candle_86]

I didn't realize having the expectation of the TSA sticking a wand up your rear was common sense. Last I checked people have an expectation of personal space. Let alone gathering of personal data for use in facial recognition and other types of software.

Being in public does not give them the right to your personal data. If you want to keep justifying that sort of thing, move to china.

Your biometrics are not considered private data, private data is something only you know not something visable to all.

 

[Evernessince]

Your biometrics are not considered private data, private data is something only you know not something visable to all.

I can say that is patently false given that medical records including biometrics are IN FACT private and must follow a very stringent set of rules to protect said data.

FYI just because you see something doesn't mean you have the right to share it.

 

[mgwerner]

I thought the ACLU was supposed to stand up for the rights of Americans, as in US citizens? Why are they wasting resources on foreigners entering the country? Seems like there is enough work for them without going outside the border to find more.

 

[candle_86]

I can say that is patently false given that medical records including biometrics are IN FACT private and must follow a very stringent set of rules to protect said data.

FYI just because you see something doesn't mean you have the right to share it.

It does if it's in public, if I see you walking around and want to take a video of you and upload it I can do without your permission and you can't do anything about it. As for biometrics the courts disagree this is why you can be forced to unlock a phone that is secured with biometrics but not a pin code.

 

[sac39507]

ALCU,

I'm a minority and you have done nothing for me and have not decrease our high crime rate. Focus your efforts on that instead. I believe in equal opportunity non-crime committing.

 

[sac39507]

I thought the ACLU was supposed to stand up for the rights of Americans, as in US citizens? Why are they wasting resources on foreigners entering the country? Seems like there is enough work for them without going outside the border to find more.

You've been misled. They stand up for the rights of certain skin color people living in the U.S. They could care less about citizenship. I'm a minority and can say this without bias.