Politech facecam archive: http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=facecam ********** Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 19:09:18 -0500 From: " Scullyat_private" <Scullyat_private> To: <declanat_private> Subject: Facial Recognition at Fresno Airport Declan, Here's another story about the ACLU opposing facial recognition software. It seems like facial recognition stories just keep popping up and it may become easy for us to overlook them as just another case of the inevitable - but we shouldn't let that happen. I'm wondering if anyone is keeping track of all the airports, bus stations, etc. that have actually implemented this technology? It would also be curious to see who has debated it and decided not to use it. -Scully --------------- Source: http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n112001a.html ACLU Calls on Fresno Airport to Remove Controversial Facial Recognition Technology FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 20, 2001 SAN FRANCISCO--A controversial facial recognition technology system installed at Fresno's Yosemite Airport will do little to keep Americans safe, but threatens fundamental civil rights, the American Civil Liberties Union said today in a letter to the city officials. "The ACLU fully recognizes the need for improving airport security in the wake of the September 11 attacks," said Jayashri Srikantiah, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Northern California. "However, we also believe that the use of intrusive new surveillance technologies must be subjected to a process of thoughtful and deliberate scrutiny. The effectiveness of facial recognition technology is open to serious question and we believe that it will not enhance the security of the air-traveling public in any meaningful way." In letter send today to the Director of Transportation for the City of Fresno, the ACLU urged the City to "reconsider its decision to employ facial recognition on a trial basis, and to put on hold any efforts to implement the technology on a permanent basis." The ACLU goes on to say that the use of the technology "will create a false sense of security while severely eroding fundamental privacy rights and likely increasing the harassment of innocent people based solely on their ethnic appearance." Several government agencies have abandoned facial-recognition systems after finding they did not work as advertised, including the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which experimented with using the technology to identify people in cars at the Mexico-U.S. border. A study by the Department of Defense found very high error rates even under ideal conditions where the subject is staring directly into the camera under bright lights. If installed in airports, the technology would miss a high proportion of suspects included in the photo database, and flag huge numbers of innocent people -- thereby lessening vigilance, wasting manpower resources, and creating a false sense of security. Nonetheless, officials at Logan Airport in Boston and T.F. Green airport in Providence, Rhode Island, have announced that they will be installing the technology. The ACLU has urged officials in these airports to reconsider their plans. More information on facial recognition technology can be found at the ACLU's special online feature at http://www.aclu.org/features/f110101a.html. The letter follows: November 20, 2001 Charles R. Hayes Director of Transportation Airport Administration City of Fresno 4995 East Clinton Way Fresno, CA 93727 Dear Mr. Hayes: According to recent news reports and our conversations with Public Relations and Communications Director Patti Miller, Fresno Yosemite International Airport has installed a facial recognition system on a trial basis as an added security measure in light of the tragic events of September 11th. While the ACLU certainly understands Fresno Yosemite's interest in increasing security at the airport, we are extremely dismayed and concerned about its decision to install a facial recognition system. Because facial recognition is a highly privacy-invasive technology, we believe its efficacy needs to be considered extremely carefully before it is deployed, whether on a trial or permanent basis. We believe that the effectiveness of facial recognition technology is open to serious question, and therefore, that airports should not be implementing the technology. To begin with, facial recognition schemes are of little use without a photographic database of suspects. It is our understanding that the "terrorist database" Fresno Yosemite will be using is both rudimentary and tiny. While we recognize that the FBI and other federal agencies may be working on the database, it is unrealistic to think that it will ever contain the photographs of more than a small fraction of potential international terrorists. The database also could not include more than a tiny fraction of potential domestic terrorists - many of whom, like Timothy McVeigh, have no criminal records. It makes little sense to employ an intrusive system that will have little chance of success. The technology will not only divert resources from more effective efforts, but it will also create a false sense of security that will cause us to let our guard down. In addition, studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Defense strongly suggest that facial recognition systems, even when tested in far more ideal conditions than those of a bustling airport, would miss a high proportion of suspects included in the photo database, while flagging many innocent people. The Department of Defense study, for instance, found major "false positive" problems, in which the system reported a match when none existed. Police and airport authorities relying on facial recognition systems will therefore be led too often to stop, question, and detain innocent people instead of suspects. If the photo database consists largely, if not exclusively, of Middle Eastern people flagged as terrorists, the result of these numerous "false positives" will fall most heavily on innocent people of Arabic or South Asian descent and lead to yet another pattern of racial profiling in law enforcement. On the flip side, the NIST study found a "false negative" rate - which corresponds to when the technology failed to identify persons who should have been identified - of 43 percent when the technology was asked to compare current images with photographs of the same subjects taken just 18 months before. Independent experts agree, as the NIST study demonstrated, that facial recognition systems have trouble recognizing the effects of aging, and that changing hair or beard style or wearing glasses can fool systems. Differences in lighting and camera angles, as well as the fact that individuals are not posing for photos (but are instead being photographed surreptitiously as in Fresno Yosemite) are all known to further increase the inaccuracies of facial recognition systems. In fact, several government agencies have abandoned facial recognition systems after finding that they did not work as advertised. For instance, the Immigration and Naturalization Service experimented with facial recognition technology to identify people in cars at the United States-Mexico border, but ultimately decided against using the technology. We are concerned as well that there will be enormous pressure to use facial recognition to look for people suspected of non-terrorist activity, such as those with outstanding warrants from local jurisdictions, or even motorists with outstanding speeding tickets. If such an expanded use of facial recognition technology seems far-fetched, it is not. We are hard-pressed to think of a privacy-invasive technology instituted in our time which has been limited to its original use. Indeed, facial recognition technology was used to surreptitiously take the photos of every person attending the Super Bowl this year. Nobody was arrested as a result of this secret surveillance experiment that made every Super Bowl patron part of a giant police line-up. The "matches" found by the system appear to have been either "false positives" or of minor lawbreakers, none of whom were alleged to have done anything illegal during the game. Despite these serious problems with the technology, it was subsequently installed on Tampa's public streets, where its use is even less justifiable than at the Super Bowl. The hastiness of Fresno Yosemite's decision to deploy facial recognition technology exacerbates our concerns about the use of the technology. According to our conversations with Ms. Miller, the airport did not undergo serious, formal deliberation before deciding to install facial recognition technology. Rather, the decision was made in an informal manner, and without public participation or debate. It appears that the vendor of the technology (who is providing it free of charge to Fresno Yosemite) will be deciding weighty questions such as who will have access to the database and what level of "match" should trigger an alarm. We fully recognize that the right to privacy at airports is not absolute. The right must be balanced against the government and the public's legitimate interest in safety when privacy-intrusive measures significantly promote security. But, we need not even reach that difficult balancing in this case, for there is simply no objective basis to believe that implementation of facial recognition technology at Fresno Yosemite will enhance the security of the air-traveling public in any meaningful way. Instead, its use will create a false sense of security while severely eroding fundamental privacy rights and likely increasing the harassment of innocent people based solely on their ethnic appearance. For all of the reasons in this letter, we strongly urge Fresno Yosemite International Airport to reconsider its decision to employ facial recognition technology on a trial basis, and to put on hold any efforts to implement the technology on a permanent basis. Thank you for your consideration of our views. Should you have additional questions or concerns, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and other appropriate officials so that we can present our views on facial recognition technology in more detail. Sincerely, Jayashri Srikantiah ACLU of Northern California Barry Steinhardt American Civil Liberties Union ********** [Below excerpted from BIOMETRIC WEEKLY, an industry trade pub. --DBM] ----------------------------------------------- Biometrics ----------------------------------------------- *** Digital Descriptor Systems, Inc. Announces New Fingerprint System Digital Descriptor Systems, Inc., a designer and marketer of digitized imaging systems and biometric identification solutions for the criminal justice and security markets, announced the first non-criminal justice market sale of its new Fingerprint Matching System (FMS) the only fully scaleable fingerprint identification system in the world designed to take full advantage of the Windows(r) NT/2000 environment. *** Vegas Hotel Caters to Younger Crowd With Biometrics The only new resort to open in Las Vegas this year, the Palms hotel-casino thinks a younger, smaller approach will mean success in a tough tourist economy. With the help of the architect who designed the upscale Bellagio hotel-casino, the Palms incorporates a variety of woods and water effects to create a chic atmosphere of comfort. The 455-room, $265 million resort is just west of the Las Vegas Strip across from the Rio hotel-casino. For $3,000 a year and a thumbprint - a biometric thumbprint scanner is used to access the private elevator - members watch the crowd below or rent one of six sky boxes with private balconies to take in a concert. *** Visionics' FaceIt Two U.S. International Airports Visionics Corporation (Nasdaq:VSNX) announced that it will begin installation of its FaceIt(R) ARGUS system at two U.S. international airports, including the first U.S. Category X airport. For security reasons, both airports remain unnamed until installation is completed, which is expected to be by the end of December. (Category X refers to the FAA designation for the top twenty international airports in the United States based on passenger traffic, complexity, and other special considerations.) *** Precise Biometrics To Get World's Largest Order in its Industry Precise Biometrics has received an order equal to more than half of the last quarter's sales. It is an order of 1000 fingerprint readers, which will be used for IT security. The order also covers a license package of about 10,000 licenses. The licenses may result in sales of a comparable number of fingerprint readers. *** EDS Launches Security Offerings for Airlines, Airports Building on its position as the leading provider of global IT infrastructure services to the airline industry, EDS (NYSE: EDS) unveiled a comprehensive suite of digital security offerings for airlines and airports around the world -- delivering the aviation industry its first proven and fully integrated approach to security. The security offerings unite smart card and biometric technologies, complex data management capabilities and industry-specific solutions to clients around the world. ----------- Smart Cards ----------- *** U.S. Army and SCM Microsystems Smart Card Readers SCM Microsystems, Inc. a provider of solutions that open the Digital World, and Logicon, a Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) company, announced they are working together to supply smart card readers to the U.S. Army. To date, 50,000 SCM readers have been delivered as part of the initial deployment. *** SCM Microsystems & AuthenTec Announce Partnership SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCMM, Neuer Markt: SMY), a provider of solutions that open the Digital World and AuthenTec, Inc., a provider of advanced biometric semiconductor technology, announced a partnership to develop readers incorporating biometrics, a market predicted to reach $1.9 billion by 20051. SCM will deliver to businesses a single solution based on smart card technology, requiring fingerprint identification to provide high-level security for laptop computers. ----------- Conferences ----------- *** Fingerprint Verification Competition From FVC2000 organizers Academic Research Groups and Companies are invited to register and submit algorithms to FVC2002. ANONYMOUS participation is possible. Please visit the FVC2002 WEB SITE (http://bias.csr.unibo.it/fvc2002/) where you can find CALL FOR Participation, DEADLINES, REGISTRATION FORM, and all the other relevant info. *** "An Introduction to Biometrics" by Endorse Systems Limited ESL is hosting 3 one-day training seminars which will provide delegates with an insight into the various biometric technologies, show how they can be utilized in key applications and how the technology can create real business opportunities. The cost per delegate is £350 + VAT. Seminars will be held at: - Endorse Systems Ltd, Trinity House, 41 Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5BA, UK on the following dates: - December 4, 2001 March 12, 2002 To book e-mail; Debbie.atkinsat_private For further information, please http://www.endorsesystems.com *** Successful Strategies for Rolling Out Biometric Technologies Dec. 6-7 December 6-7, 2001 at the Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel in New York City. Successful Strategies for Rolling Out Biometric Technologies will provide you with the evaluations, experiences, and cutting edge issues involving implementing biometrics for your business. Join us as the experts and end-users of biometrics discuss invaluable strategies, key lessons learned, and case studies of successful biometrics development and implementation. For detailed information, including registration or brochure requests, please go to the conference website at http://www.srinstitute.com/cm368 or contact the organizer at arosasat_private *** Aviation Security Seminar Set for Feb. 4-5.2002 The Advanced Learning Institute announced scheduling of a 2-day conference focusing on airport and airline security issues. The conference is set for February 4-5, 2002 in Washington DC. Mark your calendars. Information details to follow. The Advanced Learning Institute just completed its 5th Biometrics Summit this past week in Las Vegas. Approximately 80 individuals representing a wide range of companies and organizations participated in the programs. ----------- Information ----------- *** States Tightening License Rules Several states are changing the rules for obtaining drivers' licenses, particularly for foreign nationals, as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Before the attacks, the nation's main form of identification was issued according to loosely enforced standards set by each state. Law enforcement officials say the 19 terror hijackers used drivers' licenses to open bank accounts and rent cars and apartments. Now, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan and others are tightening regulations, and some are considering new licenses that would include biometric data such as fingerprints or retinal patterns. *** DynCorp Signs Memorandum of Agreement with AcSys Biometrics Nexus Group International Inc. (NXS:TSE) announced that DynCorp International LLC, a Fort Worth, Texas-based unit of DynCorp - a $2 billion information technology and outsourcing solutions firm - and AcSys Biometrics Corp. have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to pursue international development applications including those that have been brought to the fore by certain ICAO initiatives. *** Cambridge Neurodynamics Wins Security Award Cambridge Neurodynamics has won its second security award for its 3D facial recognition product - Tridentity. The Security Excellence award for Best Security Innovation 2001 was presented to Grant Garner - Business Development Manager, at the SMT awards dinner in London last week. This accolade follows the recent award by the British Security Industry for Best Access Control of the Year 2001. Tridentity is currently being considered for large Airport, Police, Voting and Border control projects worldwide. *** ActivCard Acquires Ankari ActivCard (Nasdaq: ACTI / Nasdaq Europe:ACTI), a provider of smart card and digital identity provisioning products and technology, announced it has acquired American Biometric Company LTD, a privately held, Ottawa, Canada-based company doing business as Ankari. Ankari's software framework provides organizations with the ability to verify user access through the use of any combination of passwords, digital certificates, security tokens, smart cards, and biometrics. Under the terms of the agreement, ActivCard has purchased all outstanding shares and stock options of Ankari for US$18 million in cash. *** Digital Angel Product Launch Scheduled Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSX) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Digital Angel Corporation, has selected Monday, November 26 as its official launch date for Digital Angel(TM), the first-ever combination of advanced biosensor technology and Web-enabled wireless telecommunications linked to Global Positioning (GPS). Initial marketing campaigns will focus on South Florida, with its high concentration of favorable demographic groups. *** SSP Solutions Announces Smart Card Reader with Biometrics SSP Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:SSPX) announced SSP(TM) Biometric 250, its smart card reader integrated with fingerprint biometrics. *** RS2 Introduces New Automated Voice Software RS2 Software Group has announced the introduction of new software for automatic voice authorization process (AVAM) to provide merchants rapid and efficient response to card transaction approval request. The new software has been developed in partnership with the Hungarian company Geomant, who specialize in automated call center and telecom solutions. [...] ********** From: "Xeni Jardin" <xeniat_private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Subject: correction:"VA Beach votes to install facecams on streets" Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 07:32:05 -0800 Hi, Declan, A minor correction to your subject line: the city already had the actual facecams installed; they've been up for about 8 years. The news here is that the city decided to add the controversial face-recognition software. >From a July, 2001 news item in the local VA beach paper: "The Beach has used closed-circuit TV cameras to watch the Oceanfront from the 2nd Police Precinct since 1993, largely for checking traffic and observing crowds. Under the new system, the 10 cameras would feed images of people as they strolled along the Oceanfront to monitors, where the software would sort faces against a database of mugshots, looking for a match, " Following is a story that this same newspaper ran today with more detail, and a second story on a public debate in October that preceded the software's approval, which included this quote: "One panelist, John D. Woodward Jr., senior policy analyst at the RAND Corp. think tank, argued that there is no expectation of privacy in a public place, and therefore the software could not invade it." Heavens. Apparently all those upskirt-wireless-voyeur-cam perverts can now party on with impunity if that logic holds, as long as they hang out in "public places." --XJ ------- <http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw1114fac.html Beach approves face-matching software By AGNES BLUM, The Virginian-Pilot © November 14, 2001 VIRGINIA BEACH - The City Council on Tuesday night approved the installation of facial-recognition software at the Oceanfront, making Virginia Beach the second city in the nation to use the technology. When she heard the proposal this summer, Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf had expressed skepticism both about the software's ability to work and whether it might invade people's privacy. But at Tuesday's meeting, the mayor said the events of Sept. 11, and the news that two of the hijackers had been in the area made her change her mind. [...] ********** From: "Xeni Jardin" <xeniat_private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Subject: Reuters on ACLU Fresno facecam faceoff Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 22:10:18 -0800 Message-ID: <BLECKMIOPMMIPNNEDODEMEGDEFAA.xeniat_private> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal LAT and NPR also covered the ACLU letter today... but to Ms. Abreu's credit, the Reuters report delves more into the technology's limitations. --XK -----Original Message----- From: Xeni Jardin [mailto:xeniat_private] Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 10:08 PM To: talkat_private <http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011120/ts/attack_faces_dc_1.html> Tuesday November 20 7:13 PM ET ACLU Challenges Face Scanning at California Airport By Elinor Mills Abreu SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - As airports around the country scramble to install new security measures after the Sept. 11 attacks, a leading civil rights group is warning that passengers are now in danger of machines mistaking them for terrorists. The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday asked an airport in northern California pioneering the use of facial recognition technology to stop scanning passenger faces in a hunt for possible terrorists. [...] ********** ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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