FBI to launch nationwide facial recognition service

[katty]

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20111007_6100.php?oref=rss


FBI to launch nationwide facial recognition service
By Aliya Sternstein 10/07/2011

The FBI by mid-January will activate a nationwide facial recognition service in select states that will allow local police to identify unknown subjects in photos, bureau officials told Nextgov.

The federal government is embarking on a multiyear, $1 billion dollar overhaul of the FBI's existing fingerprint database to more quickly and accurately identify suspects, partly through applying other biometric markers, such as iris scans and voice recordings.

[pmorlan1]

1. Creepy Stuff

After reading about the Star Chamber used to assassinate an American citizen I don't have much confidence that this new FBI Facial Recognition "service" will only be used lawfully. Anyone that thinks so hasn't been paying attention.

[SharonAnn]

3. Hmm, sort of like Picasa? How it scans photos and identifies who'se in them?

[midnight]

2. I want this stopped....

[999998th word]

4. Should I get out my fake glasses and rubbernose combo? just kidding but

This shit is seriously scary. I noticed a lot of picture taking @ protests I have attended lately, and NOT by people w/smartphones etc...

Definitely serious cameras and such.