Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

The government's creepy obsession with your face

The government is obsessed with your face. Do not be flattered. This is more of a creepy stalker fixation.

From the federal Department of Homeland Security down to local police departments, governmental use of biometric facial recognition software has gained a startling amount of traction in recent years. And these agencies are getting help from big business, to boot.

For example, DHS is reportedly developing a massive new biometric and biographic database with extensive data on citizens and foreigners alike. The Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) database will reportedly include at least seven biometric identifiers, including face and voice data, tattoos, DNA, scars, and other "physical descriptors" on as many as 500 million people. The agency has been remarkably hush-hush on how HART will be utilized — but the possibilities are frightening.

DHS expects to launch the new database next fiscal year, according to internal documents. By the following year, they anticipate having iris and facial matching capabilities, and by fiscal year 2021, the database is expected to be functioning in its full capacity. This massive and intrusive initiative will grant a whole host of federal, state, and local agencies access to intimate details about hundreds of millions of Americans and foreigners.

Here's how the government casts that:

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another step closer

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Anonymous said...

These " identifiers " not only identify you, your race, region of origin but also makes assumptions about IQ, your economic potential and viability as a compliant and productive citizen your obesity and preclusion for having retarded offspring failed marriages and dependence on SSI disability and likelihood to be delusionally paranoid and gun dependent . LOL.

Anonymous said...

7:33 it ain't no laughing matter.

Anonymous said...

Oh but you all dumb A'' said this doesn't exist, and it couldn't and wouldn't exist and that if it did, it would never be used against you!!!

Looks like I am right yet again!!!! I love being right...

Anonymous said...

Maybe this will stop some of those obsessive selfie takers from putting photos of their obnoxious faces all over Facebook. Won't stop them from over-using filters though!