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posted by martyb on Monday July 08 2019, @01:39PM   Printer-friendly
from the Big-Brother-keeps-getting-bigger dept.

ICE Used Facial Recognition to Mine State Driver's License Databases

WASHINGTON — Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have mined state driver's license databases using facial recognition technology, analyzing millions of motorists' photos without their knowledge.

In at least three states that offer driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, ICE officials have requested to comb through state repositories of license photos, according to newly released documents. At least two of those states, Utah and Vermont, complied, searching their photos for matches, those records show.

In the third state, Washington, agents authorized administrative subpoenas of the Department of Licensing to conduct a facial recognition scan of all photos of license applicants, though it was unclear whether the state carried out the searches. In Vermont, agents only had to file a paper request that was later approved by Department of Motor Vehicles employees.

The documents, obtained through public records requests by Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology and first reported on by The Washington Post, mark the first known instance of ICE using facial recognition technology to scan state driver's license databases, including photos of legal residents and citizens.

Privacy experts like Harrison Rudolph, an associate at the center, which released the documents to The New York Times, said the records painted a new picture of a practice that should be shut down.

[...] He continued: "These states have never told undocumented people that when they apply for a driver's license they are also turning over their face to ICE. That is a huge bait and switch."

The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement is far from new or rare. Over two dozen states allow law enforcement officials to request such searches against their databases of driver's licenses, a practice that has drawn criticism from lawmakers and advocates who say that running facial recognition searches against millions of photos of unwitting, law-abiding citizens is a major privacy violation.

The F.B.I., for example, has tapped state law enforcement's troves of photos — primarily those for driver's licenses and visa applications — for nearly a decade, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The bureau has run over 390,000 searches through databases that collectively hold over 640 million photos, F.B.I. officials said.

[...] The Seattle Times reported last year that Washington State's Department of Licensing turned over undocumented immigrants' driver's license applications to ICE officials, a practice its governor, Jay Inslee, pledged to stop. And a lawsuit in Vermont filed by an activist group cited documents obtained under public records law that showed that the state Department of Motor Vehicles forwarded names, photos, car registrations and other information on migrant workers to ICE, Vermont Public Radio reported this year.

The relationship between Washington's Department of Licensing and ICE officials may prove to be particularly interesting to privacy experts because of a law the State Legislature passed in 2012 stipulating that the department could use a facial recognition matching system for driver's licenses only when authorized by a court order, something ICE did not provide.


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  • (Score: 1, Troll) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @03:34PM (22 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @03:34PM (#864532) Journal

    Your hatred is making the rounds. Lots of liberals have caught it in recent years.

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  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by ikanreed on Monday July 08 2019, @04:17PM (19 children)

    by ikanreed (3164) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @04:17PM (#864553) Journal

    "Oh, I just want to do a little ethnic cleansing, u mad bro?"

    Like I said, of course I'm mad, you're a terrible fucking person and unambiguously deserve to die.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @05:09PM (18 children)

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @05:09PM (#864574) Journal

      You're making shit up, all on your own now.

      Do you, or do you not, believe in the rule of law? I've stated many times that each and every congress since about 1954 is guilty of negligence. Each of them has had the duty to overhaul immigration, and each of them has failed to do so. Instead, both parties exploit the wetbacks. Even the far-left AlterNet has finally admitted to the fact that both parties exploit them.

      https://www.alternet.org/2019/07/why-would-politicians-fix-our-immigration-problems-when-they-can-campaign-off-the-mess/ [alternet.org]

      I can't answer for you, but I believe in the rule of law. The law says it's illegal for those people to swarm across the border like they do. That makes them CRIMINALS. Criminals are undeserving of privileges, perks, benefits, or respect.

      Have you read about the criminals in Tijuana, trying to buy children, to use at the border to establish a "family unit"? This isn't Fox News, or MSM - it's local and international news.
      https://nworeport.me/2019/07/04/mexico-investigating-reports-of-illegals-trying-to-buy-children-to-enter-u-s/ [nworeport.me]
      https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-california/story/2019-06-27/tijuana-authorities-investigating-mgroups-trying-to-buy-children-to-cross-into-the-united-states [sandiegouniontribune.com]

      Let me stress - MSM isn't carrying that news. It's local news, and it's international news, being withheld from you and me. That is, MSM is playing you and millions of other Americans for chumps.

      Please expand your reading horizons. Meet the people who control the border that I want to close - http://www.borderlandbeat.com/ [borderlandbeat.com]

      • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by ikanreed on Monday July 08 2019, @05:40PM (8 children)

        by ikanreed (3164) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @05:40PM (#864587) Journal

        "Do you not believe in rule of law, that's why mass arrests are violating every single citizens rights are necessary"

        Fuck off. You don't want to believe you're an evil fuck, fine. I can't make you have a conscience. I know you can invent technicalities that ease your mind from confronting your craven moral cowardice forever. You don't have to prove it to me.

        • (Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @05:52PM (6 children)

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @05:52PM (#864595) Journal

          And, what I know about you is, you are a hateful person, who is happy to wallow in his ignorance. Go read that alternet story. Then, start writing your representatives, and DEMAND that immigration be overhauled. I don't care much whether your bleeding heart wants to see twenty million LEGAL immigrants per year, or twenty thousand per year. The undeniable FACT is, immigration needs to be overhauled - then it needs to be ENFORCED.

          Rule of law. What's so hard to understand about that? Or, do you prefer the current exploitation that is going on?

          http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2011/03/book-of-kids-drawings-chronicles-mexico.html [borderlandbeat.com]

          • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @08:47PM (5 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @08:47PM (#864693)

            You're a dumb shit, re-read your first post eh? Funny how once you get triggered you fall back on the propaganda style responses and forget your own point!

            • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @09:36PM (4 children)

              by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @09:36PM (#864714) Journal

              Re-read my own post? You're referring to the bit about a doctor, and a prescription? Uh-huh. And, you're going to deny that I have quite literally "triggered" Mr. Ikanread? Except, he's gone over the top, and is literally frothing at the mouth. In fact, he's admitted as much. So - you had some kind of point to make?

              • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @10:07PM (3 children)

                by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @10:07PM (#864723)

                You're right, I should have paid more attention, I thought you were directing some anger at a politician in your initial post for advancing spy tech legislation because he was FRAUGHT with anxiety about illegal immigrants.

                Turns out you're just stupid as ever and should really look into the whole "literally" definition. Yes ikanreed is angry, but rightfully so with fascists like you running your mouths off. You need a good ol' Puerto Rican pop to the mouth!

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @10:33PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @10:33PM (#864730)

                  You need a good ol' Puerto Rican pop to the mouth!

                  Another violent antifa liberal is showing its true colors. It needs a good ol' bullet to the head.

                • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @11:07PM (1 child)

                  by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @11:07PM (#864744) Journal

                  Huh. I'm not sure I've met a 'Rican internet tough guy before. I've met some in pretty tough 'Ricans in person, but not on the nets! So, whatcha gonna do - email that pop to the mouth to me?

                  • (Score: 1) by Arik on Thursday July 11 2019, @07:22AM

                    by Arik (4543) on Thursday July 11 2019, @07:22AM (#865721) Journal
                    Good response. Either he had your address already and your arse is beat, or he's bluffing and huffing and you called it.

                    These stupid emojis after your name still confuse the heck out of me. But whatever. You're a man with a little brain and a big heart. And sometimes you turn a hell of a phrase on top of it.

                    \~/
                    --
                    If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
        • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @06:26PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @06:26PM (#864621)

          *sigh* I hope you don't consider yourself a liberal, you are giving it a bad name.

          We have the right to send them back. I wish we had the guts to do it!

          Let them ask nicely, and we will consider their request.

          Climb the wall and make a break for it, back you go!

          Don't be such a passive aggressive weenie! You impotence is rather revealing when all you have are cheap ineffectual insults. Provide an argument, or shut the fuck up!

      • (Score: 5, Informative) by Arik on Monday July 08 2019, @05:49PM (4 children)

        by Arik (4543) on Monday July 08 2019, @05:49PM (#864593) Journal
        "I can't answer for you, but I believe in the rule of law. The law says it's illegal for those people to swarm across the border like they do. That makes them CRIMINALS."

        Actually, you're wrong on that. That's not a CRIMINAL offense, it's a status offense, an administrative matter, not a criminal one. It's similar to driving a car with lapsed registration - yes, it's illegal, but no, it's not CRIMINAL. Kill someone with the car, now we're in criminal territory. There is a difference.

        There are other things going on along the border that are very much criminal, of course, there are huge problems there, but you can't attribute that as a blanket over everyone seeking to immigrate. And we don't. ICE doesn't even agree with your interpretation, they distinguish between detainees and criminals. The last I heard they report overlap of about 40% - which means around 60% of their detainees are not considered criminals.
        --
        If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @05:56PM (3 children)

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @05:56PM (#864600) Journal

          A technicality, really. A lawbreaker is a lawbreaker - it's only a matter of the seriousness of the infraction. When a person wanders into the country in violation of the law, you might expect that he has no respect for any other laws. 40% are criminals, the remaining 60% are lawbreakers who have not (yet) reached criminal status.

          • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Arik on Monday July 08 2019, @06:04PM (2 children)

            by Arik (4543) on Monday July 08 2019, @06:04PM (#864607) Journal
            That's a very hard line to take on status offenses, and I suspect one you'd think was absurd and crazy if it were applied to you.

            You've never forgotten to renew your registration, or your drivers license? You've never gone walking and wound up somewhere you weren't supposed to be? You would want to be cuffed and booked for such a thing?

            A nation of laws is one thing, but let's not be a nation that worships the letter and forgets the spirit.
            --
            If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
            • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 08 2019, @06:16PM (1 child)

              by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 08 2019, @06:16PM (#864614) Journal

              Actually, it's the same sort of hard line that the typical officer takes when he pulls you over. He sees an expired tag on your car, he stops you, asks for your license, registration, and insurance, gets on his computer, and searches nationwide for warrants, arrests, convictions, etc ad nauseum. That is, he spots someone breaking a law, however minor, then actively searches for any other possible offenses he can cite.

              I'm saying, in regards to immigration, that we know Juan has broken at least one law, and that we really need to investigate him to see if he has broken other laws. He is deserving of deportation already - if he's broken other laws, then he needs to be punished before he is deported.

              • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Arik on Monday July 08 2019, @06:25PM

                by Arik (4543) on Monday July 08 2019, @06:25PM (#864620) Journal
                "He sees an expired tag on your car, he stops you, asks for your license, registration, and insurance, gets on his computer, and searches nationwide for warrants, arrests, convictions, etc ad nauseum."

                And when he finds nothing else amiss, he returns your papers, reminds you to get that taken care of, and gets back on the road, perhaps still hoping to catch an actual criminal today.

                You were quite right in another comment on this point I thought - the immigration system is broken and it needs to be fixed. I don't know why you would blame the non-criminal would-be immigrant for that, it's not their fault, they aren't Congress.
                --
                If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 09 2019, @02:30AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 09 2019, @02:30AM (#864819)

        Fact is, undocumented workers were just fine for the Trumpster before he became a politician. Hired plenty of them to clean his toilets. He loved them because they were cheap. Now he uses them to rile up idiots on a non issue just so he can get elected.

        The Trumpster is "using" his unwashed masses and they believe his crap because he tells them exactly what they want to hear. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy nut I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of republican dirty tricks guys went to Guatamala and rounded up a couple of those "caravans" and started them heading north. Wouldn't be hard to organize tossing around a little money getting the coyotes in line, and what fodder this is be for the idiot republican nuts. Happened just before the election...coincidence?

        I love how republicans talk about "rule of law" and wrap themselves in the flag when the stuff they do would make Washington, Jefferson, Franklin turn over in their graves. I am pretty sure our founding fathers would not like the turn our country has taken.

        The unwashed masses follow Trumpster blindly....no brains anywhere is sight to analyze a situation and see who really benefits. The Republicans politicians are the ones benefiting from the people at the border...nothing like a good "crisis"!!!

         

        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday July 09 2019, @01:46PM (2 children)

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 09 2019, @01:46PM (#864977) Journal

          We agree on one thing: the founding fathers would roll over in their graves, if they could see America today. Take the anchor baby issue, for example. The author of the 14th amendment, for instance, would choke over the idea of "anchor babies".

          Howard wrote “that every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.”

          https://www.14thamendment.us/articles/anchor_babies_unconstitutionality.html [14thamendment.us]

          So, are we ready to end the practice of granting citizenship to every baby who falls out while his mama happens to be trespassing on US soil?

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 15 2019, @10:55AM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 15 2019, @10:55AM (#867136)

            Where do American born individuals, who are being kept as sex slaves, never reported to the government, so they have no official government papers and kept in rural or isolated communities (not always rural) fit in? This may seem like a hypothetical, but I've polled enough people recently to understand it is an actual problem in the US. Under current attitudes they are devoid of constitutional rights. If they are also brown or black, I imagine the situation is even worse for them. Since they aren't documented citizens, do they get shuffled off to Mexico? Canada? Europe? Africa? Do they end up incarcerated in some shithole? Do they just get sold off to rich assholes thanks to leaving no papertrail even an FOIA act will help track down?

            • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday July 15 2019, @11:58AM

              by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 15 2019, @11:58AM (#867145) Journal

              By "American born individuals" do you mean the children of citizens, or the children of illegal aliens? https://www.14thamendment.us/articles/anchor_babies_unconstitutionality.html [14thamendment.us] A strict reading of the constitutional amendment, as the author and the legislators intended it would rescue the children of citizens, and deport the children of aliens. That kind of sucks, so I would grant citizenship to those children of aliens found in that predicament.

              And, no, your question isn't all that hypothetical. There have been children found in New York City in such circumstances. Haven't seen 'Zumi in awhile, but she referenced such a case, IIRC. It seems the victims in that case were Asian, but I'm no longer sure about that.

              The PERPETRATORS of those crimes should be tried on capital charges, if you ask me. And, it wouldn't matter to me at all if the perps were citizens or aliens. The VICTIMS should be helped as much as possible.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @05:48PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 08 2019, @05:48PM (#864591)

    You've got it backwards, but hey Gaslight Obstruct Project works so well for a reason.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 09 2019, @02:08AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 09 2019, @02:08AM (#864811)

    I love how the republicans constantly bring up "hatred". Oooohhh those dems have such "hatred"!!!!

    For 8 years during the Obama administration all we heard was hatred from republicans....nothing was right...Obamacare was a republican idea and that was still not good enough because of "not invented here".

    I am pretty sure that if it was Canadians walking across the border there would be much less stink from the republicans because the Canadians are not coming from shithole country.

    The real hatred is the bigoted hatred of those different than us good ole white people.

    Back in the 1940's someone else tried to purify the population and it didn't turn out well for them.