Facial Recognition for National Security and Transnational Criminal Organizations
Description
USBP works to address challenges in identifying individuals who may be associated with national security concerns or transnational criminal organizations, especially in situations where traditional identification methods are unavailable or insufficient. To support this effort, USBP utilizes facial recognition technology to generate investigative leads by providing visually similar photos of unidentified individuals. These leads serve as a starting point for analysts to conduct further investigation. No enforcement action is taken based solely on the leads generated by this tool. All potential identifications undergo thorough investigation and validation to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards. This approach reflects USBP's commitment to responsibly leveraging technology to enhance national security and combat transnational criminal activities.
Detailed example
The tool generates visually similar photos of individuals, which serve as preliminary leads for analysts to initiate further investigation. These outputs are not definitive identifications but are intended to assist in narrowing investigative focus. No enforcement action is permitted based solely on these leads. Every potential identification must undergo comprehensive investigation and validation by analysts to ensure accuracy and adherence to established investigative protocols. This process ensures the responsible and ethical use of the technology.
AI / analytics pattern
Computer Vision: AI that processes and interprets visual data (e.g., images and videos).
Automation level / stage
b) Pilot – The use case has been deployed in a limited test or pilot capacity.
Expected benefit
The intended purpose of this facial recognition technology is to assist USBP agents in addressing the challenges of identifying individuals who may be linked to national security threats or transnational criminal organizations. This capability enhances USBP's ability to develop investigative leads in cases where traditional identification methods are unavailable or insufficient. The benefits include improved efficiency in generating leads, enhanced support for national security and criminal investigations, and the ability to address complex threats more effectively.
Audit / financial statement impact
The AI utilizes publicly available images and performs a comparative search against other open-source images to identify potential matches. Results produced by the AI can only be utilized for investigative leads and cannot be utilized as a determining factor for any enforcement action by CBP personnel. Therefore, in instances where the AI outputs assist in identifying leads, CBP personnel must then use internal CBP or USG data prior to making any law enforcement decisions or actions. The outputs of the AI do not serve as the principal basis for a high-impact decision or action.
Controls / human review
ATO: Yes; PIA: https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhscbppia-056-traveler-verification-service
Data needed
The outputs of the AI are a "percentage match" which if above a threshold returns additional metadata from the registered person in the gallery. The AI was "tuned" by adjusting the threshold over months of testing to ensure matches that did not misidentify persons while still ensuring that various templates and pictures still returned a "real world" positive match.