Facial Recognition for Locating Vulnerable Populations
Description
The use case addresses the challenge of identifying and locating members of vulnerable populations, such as unaccompanied minors who have crossed the border, whose identities and locations are unknown to law enforcement.
Detailed example
Investigators submit facial photos obtained through lawful means to an AI-enabled facial recognition service. The service compares these photos to publicly available online images to find visually similar faces. It returns possible matches, along with references to the public sources where those images were found, so personnel can review them in context. These results are treated as leads that may help identify a person or their associates, but they are not confirmations on their own.
AI / analytics pattern
Computer Vision: AI that processes and interprets visual data (e.g., images and videos).
Automation level / stage
c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
Expected benefit
The facial recognition service reduces the time personnel spend manually searching for images online and helps them discover potentially relevant photographs or profiles that they might not otherwise find. This can improve the speed and effectiveness of efforts to identify and locate vulnerable individuals and support appropriate protective or assistance measures.
Controls / human review
ATO: Yes; PIA: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/privacy-pia-ice-frs-054-may2020.pdf
Data needed
Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES)