Assignment: Integrating New Technology in Law Enforcement Practice/Student Replies

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Biometric Technology in Law Enforcement

Brandie Lynn Schnobrich

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Walden University

CRJS-3003: Law Enforcement

John Walker

April 04, 2021

Biometric Technology in Law Enforcement

Brandie Lynn Schnobrich

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Walden University

CRJS-3003: Law Enforcement

John Walker

April 04, 2021

Image 1: Courtesy of Homesecure.co.za

FACIAL RECOGNITION

SOFTWARE

FACIAL RECOGNITION

SOFTWARE

What it is & How it Works

Law Enforcement & Legal Implications

Public Expectations

What Is Facial Recognition Software?

Facial recognition technology is a biometric technique for recognizing individuals using computer software. It is the automated process of recognizing or verifying an individual's identity by looking at their face (EFF, 2017).

Image 2: Getty Images/iStockphoto

How It WorksHow It Works

 Facial recognition algorithms identify distinctive features of a face, such as eye distance, and incorporates them into a digital image known as a faceprint. Each system can take slightly different measurements of a person's face and use its own algorithm to produce the most accurate faceprint possible. To find a match, the algorithm compares the faceprint to a database of recognized faces (RPC Senate, 2019).

Image 3: RPC Senate, 2019

FACE RECOGNITION: BIOMETRICSFACE RECOGNITION: BIOMETRICS

 Biometric software is being used by an increasing number of law enforcement agencies around the world to scan faces in closed- circuit television (CCTV) footage and to identify persons of interest. Police are increasingly relying on facial recognition to verify identities

(Find Biometrics, 2021).

Biometrics Has Two Main Purposes in Law Enforcement

Identification

1. Helps identify criminals who will not disclose their name or uses an alias.

2. Converts images into computer data and searches for similar images.

3. System digitally stores electronic data.

4. Determines if suspects face is on file and a possible criminal record

(Coleman, 2020).

Authentication

1. Though this technology's accuracy has substantially improved in recent years, constitutional, privacy, and other issues remain.

2. Facial recognition algorithms identify distinctive features of a face, such as eye distance, and incorporates them into a digital image known as a faceprint

(EFF, 2017).

Facial recognition is an important crime-fighting

technology

 Facial recognition technology does not replace anything an officer does with criminal investigations, except for include more time and effort. When used adequately, it is a valuable tool in the investigative process that can offer a strong investigative lead.

 FACE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE CAN HELP MAKE US ALL SAFER!

Image: Courtesy of Vigilant Solutions

The Use of Facial Recognition In Law

Enforcement

The Use of Facial Recognition In Law

Enforcement

Image 4: Courtesy of Vigilant Solutions

How Facial Recognition Affects Law Enforcement How Facial Recognition

Affects Law Enforcement

The Good

The algorithm used determines the accuracy of facial recognition. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tested several facial recognition technologies in 2010 and discovered that the best algorithm correctly identified 92 percent of unidentified people from a database of 1.6 million criminal records (Brocklin, 2017).

The Bad

Facial recognition systems can formulate issues that affect the outcomes of law enforcement efforts to solve cases. There are issues like the bias programming it has when it comes to minorities and African Americans. The program does not differentiate correct algorithms for African American faces. This serious problem must be analyzed and the resolved. Facial recognition technology is still developing and evolving this scientific and diagnostic system has significant potential for law enforcement, but it is not without flaws (Hamann & Smith, 2019).

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Legal ImplicationsLegal Implications In recent years, facial recognition technologies have significantly expanded the government's ability to track or observe individuals, posing new constitutional and moral dilemmas. Facial recognition laws require clearer legal requirements. There are currently no federal restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology for government purposes. Many questions have been raised about whether it violates the First Amendment, which guarantees freedoms including faith, speech, and the press; the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from arbitrary searches and seizures; and the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law. Then there is the Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act, as well as the civil rights issues that must be raised in order to protect various groups of people (Chin, 2019). This includes the question should police need a warrant to track a suspect’s activities during an exact time frame even though they are in a public place.

In recent years, facial recognition technologies have significantly expanded the government's ability to track or observe individuals, posing new constitutional and moral dilemmas. Facial recognition laws require clearer legal requirements. There are currently no federal restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology for government purposes. Many questions have been raised about whether it violates the First Amendment, which guarantees freedoms including faith, speech, and the press; the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from arbitrary searches and seizures; and the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law. Then there is the Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act, as well as the civil rights issues that must be raised in order to protect various groups of people (Chin, 2019). This includes the question should police need a warrant to track a suspect’s activities during an exact time frame even though they are in a public place.

For what purposes should facial recognition technology be used in Law Enforcement?

Airport Security

Unlock Personal Phones

Police Investigations

50%

54%

70%

Percent who believed we benefit from the use of technology

The Ada Lovelace Institute, (2019) conducted a survey in 2018 with a mass percentage of the population in the U.K. and a report was made about the public’s attitudes and knowledge of facial recognition technology. They found that a good majority of people were okay with law enforcements use of it for criminal investigations.

Graph 1: Percent who believe the public benefits from law enforcements use of facial recognition software. Note. These percentages came from a survey done in the U.K. in 2018 by the Ada Lovelace Institute. (2019, September). Beyond face value: Public attitudes to facial recognition technology. [PDF] Retrieved from file///C:/Users/brand/Downloads/Public- attitudes-to-facial-recognition-technology_v.FINAL_.pdf

Closed-Circuit Television

CCTV Cameras

 While closed-circuit television (CCTV) technology has been around for decades, recent advancements have made it much more successful at catching offenders in the act and prosecuting them. Officers can watch live events on cameras and monitors, and recorders save video for later viewing (Wilson, 2015). One thing that the public may not realize is how much access the government and law enforcement have to their faceprint. Any CCTV camera can be linked to a database where any images and information captured can be retrieved. These cameras are located everywhere from businesses, street light poles to your own home surveillance system.

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONSPUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

Facial recognition technology is well-known, but little is known about it. It is important to know the low level of public awareness. It limits the public's ability to participate in a well- informed discussion about the advantages and threats of this technology. More public engagement and education will reinforce the democratic structure for new ideas for the legal use of facial recognition technology. This will also encourage individuals to make informed decisions about its legality for law enforcements use (Ada Lovelace Institute, 2019).

Smith, B. (2020, May 31). Finally, progress on regulating facial recognition. [Image]. Retrieved from https://1gew6o3qn6vx9kp3s42ge0y1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/5/2020/03/facialrecognition- 1536x864.png

References

Ada Lovelace Institute. (2019, September). Beyond face value: Public attitudes to facial recognition technology. [PDF] Retrieved from file///C:/Users/brand/Downloads/Public-attitudes-to-facial-recognition- technology_v.FINAL_.pdf.

Brocklin, V. V. (2017, December 07). What police departments should consider before implementing facial recognition software. Retrieved from https://www.police1.com/police-products/police-technology/police-

software/facial-recognition/articles/what-police-departments-should-consider-before-implementing-facial- recognition-software-Zl9nVExQJYer4L7P.

Chin, C. (2019, December 09). Highlights: Setting guidelines for facial recognition and law enforcement. In The Brookings. Retrieved from

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2019/12/09/highlights-setting-guidelines-for-facial-recognition-and- law-enforcement/.

Colman, S. (2020). Biometrics: Solving cases of mistaken identity and more. Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=41833c7-85bc-4af-a87a- aa1a4250c237%40pdc-v-sessmgr03.

EFF. (2017, October 24). Street-level surveillance: Face recognition. Retrieved from https://www.eff.org/pages/face-recognition.

References Continued…

Find Biometrics. (2021). Facial recognition. Received from https://findbiometrics.com/solutions/facial-recognition/.

Hamann, K. & Smith, R. (2019). Facial recognition technology: Where will it take us? In ABA. Retrieved from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice/publications/criminal-justice-magazine/2019/spring/facial- recognition-technology/.

RPC Senate. (2019, November 20). Facial recognition: Potential and risk. Retrieved from https://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/facial-recognition-potential-and-risk.

Wilson, J. (2015, June 18). Sonitrol commercial security blog: What type of CCTV camera should I buy? Retrieved from https://www.sonitrolwesterncanada.com/blog/what-type-of-cctv-camera-should-i-buy.