Do you think FBI will notice this one?
The FBI is consulting local police and vendors about technology
currently in use that can spot crooks and terrorists by interpreting the
symbolism of their tattoos, according to government documents.
The inquiry follows work already underway
at the bureau and Homeland Security Department to add iris and facial
recognition services to their respective fingerprint databases.
The FBI on Friday issued a request for information
on existing databases “containing tattoo/symbol images, their possible
meanings, gang affiliations, terrorist groups or other criminal
organizations.”
The mass collection of multiple biometric markers, potentially
including vocal tracks and handwriting samples, has upset immigrant
communities who say the FBI and DHS are misusing the technology to
deport innocent people.
On July 11, the Wall Street Journal reported
that the government denied green cards to spouses of permanent U.S.
residents, some with no arrest records, because their tattoos resembled
gang symbols. This week, a Senate panel is scheduled to question the FBI about the civil liberties consequences of facial recognition.
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