How does ICE use facial recognition technology?

ICE agents use a facial recognition app called Mobile Fortify on streets to identify and detain people, accessing a database of over 200 million images.

What are the privacy concerns with ICE's facial recognition app?

The app uses a large database of images, and data is stored for 15 years. There are also concerns about known biases in the technology, particularly for individuals with darker skin.

Can individuals refuse facial scans by ICE?

While US citizens can refuse some optional scans, such as at TSA checkpoints, documentation suggests individuals have no right to refuse if an ICE officer scans their face in the field.

Home / Technology / ICE Uses Facial App on Streets

ICE Uses Facial App on Streets

7 Feb

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Summary

ICE agents use a facial recognition app called Mobile Fortify.
The app accesses a database of over 200 million images.
Facial recognition technology has known biases against dark skin.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deploying a facial recognition application known as Mobile Fortify in public spaces. This app accesses a substantial database containing over 200 million images, which were initially gathered by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) during border entries. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversees both ICE and CBP.

Concerns are amplified by the known biases in facial recognition technology, particularly its higher error rates when identifying Black individuals. This can lead to increased risks of wrongful detention and contribute to existing racial disparities. While some optional face scans, such as those at TSA checkpoints, can be refused by US citizens, ICE agents can capture and scan faces without explicit consent.

The data collected by Mobile Fortify is retained for 15 years, irrespective of an individual's citizenship or immigration status. Security experts have long warned about the dangers of biometric scanning, emphasizing how passive face scanning can occur without user intent or consent, unlike PINs or fingerprint readers.