Thu Sep 26 13:32:22 UTC 2024: ## FBI Seeks Open-Source Facial Recognition Technology for Investigations
The FBI has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking open-source facial recognition capabilities, sparking privacy concerns. The agency aims to acquire technology similar to that offered by companies like Clearview AI and PimEyes, both of which have faced lawsuits and criticism over potential privacy violations.
The FBI justifies its interest in open-source facial recognition by citing its value in major criminal, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism investigations. According to the agency, criminals often use social media to communicate and coordinate illegal activities, making open-source image databases a potentially valuable tool for identifying suspects.
The FBI highlights the challenges in relying solely on traditional image repositories, especially when dealing with foreign suspects or individuals who have deliberately concealed their identities. Open-source facial recognition could prove particularly useful in these cases, allowing investigators to generate leads from publicly available images.
Responses to the RFI are due by October 15. The FBI’s decision on whether to adopt this technology remains unclear, but its pursuit of open-source facial recognition raises concerns about potential privacy infringements and the ethical implications of such powerful surveillance tools.
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