FBI looks for ways to recognize faces in online images

The US FBI wants to investigate the market for providers of facial recognition solutions that collect and search for facial images from open sources and public platforms.

The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) request for information states that, given advances in the commercial facial recognition market, the agency would like to gain a better understanding of its capabilities for this type of capability.

The agency bases its RFI on extensive investigations in the areas of crime, counterintelligence and counterterrorism: “Investigative leads are often derived from open source images posted on social media, websites and the dark web. For example, individuals often use social media to communicate, coordinate and carry out criminal activities.”

The criminals sought by the FBI and its partners are not always U.S. residents with driver’s licenses, passports or criminal records whose biometric facial data would be searchable.

Clearview AI is known to have a database of more than 50 billion images from the public internet. The providers must be based in the US and it seems that Clearview has little competition in its industry.

The RFI asks vendors to identify their technology as well as the other technologies that would be required to deliver a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. Vendors are also asked to provide any results obtained through NIST’s Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE) program.

The FBI also wants to know how providers use their disclosure and consent practices, as well as their data security and management practices. The agency asks if providers can support the conversion of facial images into biometric templates before they are submitted for searches for potential matches. The FBI also asks for up to three current customers to serve as references.

Requests for clarification are due by October 1st, responses must be received by October 15th.

Article topics

biometric identification | biometric matching | biometrics | facial recognition | FBI | police | RFI