CBP Expands Surveillance with New Facial Recognition Technology for Border Vehicle Inspections
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is once again looking to enhance its border surveillance capabilities. This time, CBP plans to integrate facial recognition technology for all motorists entering the U.S. by car. As the agency continues to expand its surveillance infrastructure, facial recognition remains a pivotal component.
New Request for Information: High-Quality Facial Imaging
Recently, CBP’s Office of Field Operations Biometric Program Office issued a Request for Information (RFI), seeking vendors to provide advanced technology capable of capturing high-quality facial images of individuals inside vehicles at inbound land ports of entry. These images will facilitate real-time matches with the Traveler Verification System, a pre-existing facial recognition solution employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at various entry points, including airports and pedestrian crossings.
Current Data Collection Practices at Border Crossings
As it stands, CBP gathers extensive data at border crossings, including a “vehicle package” consisting of a license plate, scene photo, and biographical data. The newly proposed technology is designed to complement, not replace, this existing dataset, creating a two-layered system. Vehicles will first enter the Pre-Primary Zone, where live encounter photos will be compared with any existing government images. They will then progress to the Primary Zone, where the new technology will analyze images of individuals not already “biometrically confirmed” in the PPZ.
Requirements for New Technology: Real-Time Feedback and Filtering
The RFI stipulates that CBP is open to passive or officer-activated systems, provided they offer real-time feedback. Additionally, these systems must be capable of filtering out non-human passengers, such as pets or graphics on clothing, and must capture usable photos of individuals even in less-than-ideal conditions (e.g., wearing hats or sunglasses).
A History of Facial Recognition at Border Checkpoints
CBP’s interest in utilizing facial recognition at vehicle checkpoints is not new. Last year, The Intercept reported on a previous RFI from DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate, which sought information on implementing facial recognition for vehicle occupants approaching border checkpoints. Since 2016, DHS has tested facial recognition on vehicles at multiple locations, including Anzalduas International Bridge, Nogales’ Mariposa Port of Entry, and Buffalo’s Peace Bridge Port of Entry.
Facial Recognition: The Broader Implications
In a press release regarding the Buffalo test, CBP emphasized its commitment to biometric surveillance, stating that it aims to biometrically document all foreign nationals entering and exiting the U.S. They also noted the role of facial recognition technology in preventing “imposters” from using fraudulent travel documents.
Challenges Identified in Previous Tests
The Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained a 2022 postmortem report by DHS on the Anzalduas test, revealing that while all objective goals were reportedly met, pictures were captured only 76% of the time, with 81% of those images being usable. The RFI acknowledges these challenges, citing factors like human behavior and environmental obstacles as significant issues in the vehicle context.
Privacy Concerns with Expanding Facial Recognition
CBP’s plans to enhance facial recognition capabilities at the border have raised several privacy concerns. Dave Mass, director of investigations at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), highlighted that CBP’s current one-to-one facial recognition approach could lead to mismatches between individuals and their official documents. Furthermore, expanding real-time facial recognition to vehicles poses significant privacy risks.
Increasing Image Capture for Better Accuracy
The Anzalduas postmortem emphasized that CBP needs to “significantly increase” the number of images it captures. The RFI seems to consider this, stating that the new technology aims to enhance “passenger images in the PPZ” and achieve a goal of capturing images of 100% of vehicle passengers.
Submission Deadline for Vendors
Vendors interested in participating have until May 30 to respond to the RFI.
FAQs About CBP’s Facial Recognition Technology
What is CBP’s new facial recognition technology aimed at?
CBP’s new facial recognition technology is designed to enhance border security by capturing high-quality images of individuals in vehicles crossing into the U.S. and matching them with existing government databases.
How does facial recognition at the border work?
The system will capture photographs of vehicle occupants in real-time, compare them against government databases, and help identify individuals entering the U.S. to deter the use of fraudulent travel documents.
What are the privacy implications of this technology?
The expansion of facial recognition technology raises significant privacy concerns, as it could create extensive surveillance networks tracking individuals’ movements and personal information.
What challenges did CBP face in previous facial recognition tests?
In prior tests, CBP reported challenges such as capturing usable images only 76% of the time and difficulties related to environmental factors and human behavior that could hinder accurate identification.