Facial Recognition for Investigations of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Description
This use case intends to solve the problem of identifying unknown victims and offenders depicted in child sexual abuse material.
Detailed example
Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation Investigations Unit personnel submit newly discovered and unidentified child sexual abuse material images obtained through lawful investigative 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 links or references to the public sources where those images were found, so investigators can review them in context. These results are treated as investigative leads that may point to potential identities or locations, but they do not constitute confirmation 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 tool helps more quickly identify previously unknown victims and offenders who might not be discovered through manual investigative methods alone. By highlighting potentially relevant photographs or profiles across publicly available online images, it can accelerate victim identification and rescue efforts and support the disruption and prosecution of offenders who might otherwise remain undetected.
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)