CBP One app's facial recognition fails on Black skin tones, migrants report
Migrants and advocates report that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app, used to schedule asylum appointments, frequently crashes and fails to recognize photographs of Black individuals, particularly affecting Haitians. The app also splits families and assigns appointments at distant border crossings, causing long waits in dangerous conditions. CBP did not respond to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Beijing Subway to use facial recognition for passenger screening
The Beijing Subway plans to introduce security screenings that use an AI-powered camera system to divide passengers into groups based on facial recognition. The system is intended to single out people for different security measures, aiming to speed up subway traffic. The article does not report any specific incident of harm or complaint.
- Company involved
- Beijing Subway
- AI system involved
- AI-powered camera system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Chinese police use face recognition to monitor Uyghur minority
Chinese police departments in multiple provinces have deployed facial recognition systems from AI companies such as Yitu, Megvii, SenseTime, and CloudWalk to identify and track Uyghur people, a Muslim minority. The systems scan crowds and trigger alerts when a Uyghur individual is detected, enabling targeted surveillance across cities including Hangzhou, Wenzhou, and Sanmenxia. Documents and interviews show that one system in Sanmenxia conducted over 500,000 screenings in a month, flagging thousands as Uyghur. Police use this technology to monitor and control the Uyghur population, who have been subjected to mass detention and other repressive measures. The article reports these practices from interviews with anonymous sources and procurement documents.
- Company involved
- Chinese police departments (various provinces)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Chinese facial recognition systems used in Zimbabwe and Uganda raise bias and privacy concerns
Chinese technology companies CloudWalk and Huawei have supplied facial recognition systems to the governments of Zimbabwe and Uganda for law enforcement and administration. The systems are alleged to be inaccurate for dark-skinned individuals, potentially leading to false positives and unwarranted surveillance. Digital rights advocates warn that these systems could exacerbate civil liberties abuses in countries with weak legal protections. The use of these technologies is part of China's growing geopolitical influence and corporate expansion in Africa.
- Company involved
- Zimbabwean government; Ugandan government
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Kneron researchers bypass facial recognition at airport and train station using mask and photo
In December 2019, Kneron researchers tested facial recognition systems at a high-speed rail station in China, Schiphol Airport, point-of-sale terminals, and a mobile phone. Using a high-quality 3D mask and a photo on a phone screen, they successfully deceived the systems, gaining access and making purchases. The survey highlighted security shortfalls in many commercial facial recognition solutions.
- Company involved
- Schiphol Airport; high-speed rail station in China
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Police facial recognition robot identifies anger and distress
A police facial recognition robot identifies anger and distress. The article gives no further details about the system, its deployment, or any consequences.
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Buenos Aires city government recuses judge who suspended facial recognition system
The Buenos Aires city government recused Judge Roberto Gallardo after he suspended the Sistema de Reconocimiento Facial de Prófugos, a facial recognition system used to identify and detain individuals with outstanding arrest warrants. The government claims the judge's ruling was politically motivated and that the system has helped capture over 1,600 fugitives. The government is challenging the suspension in court.
- Company involved
- Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
- AI system involved
- Sistema de Reconocimiento Facial de Prófugos
10 source articles · read the reporting →
EU to trial AI lie detector at airports in Hungary, Latvia, Greece
The European Union is set to trial an AI-powered lie detector system called iBorderCtrl at airports in Hungary, Latvia and Greece. The system uses a virtual avatar to question passengers and monitors their facial expressions to detect deception. Privacy groups have raised concerns about bias and error rates, noting that the technology has only been tested on 32 people. The trial will require passenger consent and will be overseen by human guards.
- Company involved
- European Union (iBorderCtrl project)
- AI system involved
- iBorderCtrl
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Facial recognition trialled in Australian schools to mark attendance
Five Australian schools are trialling a facial recognition system from LoopLearn to automate student attendance. The system scans students' faces and sends attendance data to an app. Privacy experts have raised concerns about data security and surveillance. The Victorian government previously tried to stop the trial due to privacy risks.
- Company involved
- Clarendon College
- AI system involved
- LoopLearn
10 source articles · read the reporting →
U.S. Customs and Border Protection scanned 23 million with facial recognition, caught zero airport imposters in 2020
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) scanned over 23 million people with facial recognition technology at airports, seaports, and pedestrian crossings in 2020. The agency's annual report revealed that the system caught no imposters at airports and fewer than 100 new pedestrian imposters. The system has been deployed at more than 30 points of entry since 2018, but has only caught seven airport imposters total. The article reports on the system's ineffectiveness and privacy concerns.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
10 source articles · read the reporting →
California bar exam facial recognition system fails to verify Arab-American student's identity
Ahmed Alamri, an Arab-American law student, was unable to register for the practice California bar exam because ExamSoft's facial recognition system repeatedly failed to recognize his face, citing poor lighting. Alamri attempted to verify his identity over 75 times in different rooms and lighting conditions without success. He and other students filed an emergency petition with the California Supreme Court, alleging that the system discriminates against people of color. The incident highlights concerns about bias in facial recognition technology used for exam proctoring.
- Company involved
- California State Bar
- AI system involved
- ExamSoft
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSE introduces facial recognition system for students to access digital documents
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a facial recognition system for Class 10 and 12 students to access their digital academic documents. A live image of the student is compared with the photograph on their CBSE admit card and, if the match succeeds, the certificate is emailed to them. The facility is available on Digi Locker for 2020 records and is expected to help foreign students and those unable to open a Digi Locker account.
- Company involved
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- AI system involved
- Facial Recognition System
10 source articles · read the reporting →
India's Aadhaar facial recognition risks excluding millions from vaccines
India's National Health Authority piloted an Aadhaar-based facial recognition system for authentication at COVID-19 vaccination centres, and made Aadhaar the preferred mode of registration. Rights groups and experts warned that millions of vulnerable people, including those without an Aadhaar ID, could be excluded or misidentified and denied vaccines. The system was tested in the eastern state of Jharkhand, with plans for nationwide rollout.
- Company involved
- National Health Authority
- AI system involved
- Aadhaar-based facial recognition system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Italian police facial recognition system SARI uses 16 million mugshots, raising legality questions
The Italian State Police have been using a facial recognition system called SARI since July 2018, based on a database of 16 million mugshots. The system has helped in arrests but has raised civil rights concerns because nine million of the mugshots belong to people stopped only once. A parliamentary question has been filed seeking more details, but has not yet been answered. The Italian Data Protection Authority has found the system compliant with the law.
- Company involved
- Italian State Police
- AI system involved
- SARI
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Huawei and Megvii tested Uyghur alarm facial recognition system
Huawei and Megvii conducted an interoperability test in 2018 that verified a 'Uyghur alarm' function in Megvii's facial recognition system, according to a confidential report found by IPVM. The system could identify Uyghur minorities and alert police. Huawei denied real-world application and deleted the report after IPVM inquired. Megvii denied targeting ethnic groups. The test report was publicly accessible on Huawei's European website.
- Company involved
- Huawei
- AI system involved
- Megvii Dynamic Face Recognition
10 source articles · read the reporting →
ViaQuatro's facial recognition system in São Paulo metro challenged in court
In April 2018, ViaQuatro installed the Digital Interactive Doors System, developed by AdMobilize, on the São Paulo metro's yellow line. The system used cameras to detect passengers' faces and claimed to infer their emotion, age, and gender in order to target advertisements. The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection (IDEC) filed a public civil action alleging that the system violated consumer and data protection laws by processing biometric data without consent and making pseudoscientific and discriminatory inferences. A judge ordered the cameras removed in August 2018, and the case is pending a final ruling.
- Company involved
- ViaQuatro
- AI system involved
- Digital Interactive Doors System (DID system)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Campaigners call for end to Home Office's IPIC 'robo-caseworker' AI tool
Migrants' rights campaigners have called for the UK government to stop using the IPIC (Identify & Prioritise Immigration Cases) AI system, which automatically identifies and recommends migrants for immigration decisions or enforcement action. Privacy International and the Migrants' Rights Network have raised concerns that the system could lead to racial bias and the 'rubberstamping' of algorithmic recommendations by caseworkers. The campaigners argue that people going through the immigration system may not know their information has been processed by an algorithm. The Home Office has not directly responded to the specific concerns, though Science Secretary Peter Kyle has defended the safe development of AI in public services.
- Company involved
- Home Office
- AI system involved
- IPIC (Identify & Prioritise Immigration Cases)
9 source articles · read the reporting →
CBSA tested facial recognition on millions at Toronto Pearson Airport in 2016
In 2016, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) secretly tested facial recognition technology on millions of travellers at Toronto Pearson Airport without their knowledge. The system, supplied by Face4 Systems, matched faces against a database of previously deported individuals. The CBSA stated that no one was deported as a result of the pilot, and the technology was removed after six months. Privacy advocates raised concerns about lack of consent, transparency, and potential racial bias.
- Company involved
- Canada Border Services Agency
- AI system involved
- Faces on the Move
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Met Police buys £3m retrospective facial recognition system
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has awarded a £3 million, four-year contract to Northgate Public Services for a new retrospective facial-recognition (RFR) system to be deployed within three months. RFR processes biometric information from historic CCTV, social media, and other images to identify suspects and missing persons, operating retroactively unlike live facial recognition. The procurement was approved by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime in August 2021. The MPS states that human-in-the-loop decision-making will be used, but digital rights groups and a former biometrics commissioner have raised concerns about potential discrimination, overrepresentation of marginalised groups in watch lists, and lack of a legislative framework.
- Company involved
- Metropolitan Police Service
- AI system involved
- Retrospective facial-recognition software
9 source articles · read the reporting →
US CBP deploys CBP One app using facial recognition for asylum seekers amid privacy concerns
The article reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly deployed the CBP One mobile app at the Mexico border. The app uses facial recognition and geolocation to collect and verify information on asylum seekers before they enter the United States. Privacy experts warn that the app poses risks of persistent surveillance and that the facial recognition algorithm is unreliable for people of colour. A previous CBP facial recognition pilot was hacked, exposing images. CBP says the app is voluntary and data is secure.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Five Illinois residents sue facial recognition company Pimeyes under BIPA
Five Illinois residents are suing Pimeyes, a facial recognition search engine, alleging that the company violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by collecting and using their facial data without consent. The lawsuit claims that Pimeyes made the residents' photos and information available in search results, enabling unauthorized access. The company has not yet been served with the lawsuit, and its CEO stated he had no prior knowledge of the case.
- Company involved
- Pimeyes
- AI system involved
- Pimeyes
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Met Police accessed PimEyes facial recognition site 2,000 times
The Metropolitan Police accessed the controversial facial recognition search engine PimEyes over 2,000 times from its computers in the first three months of 2024. The force stated that the hits did not necessarily mean searches were conducted, but after being alerted by i and Liberty Investigates, it blocked access to the site and strengthened safeguards. Privacy campaigners and MPs have raised concerns that the unregulated tool could be used for stalking and surveillance.
- Company involved
- Metropolitan Police Service
- AI system involved
- PimEyes
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Serco Leisure issued enforcement notices for unlawful biometric monitoring of employees
Serco Leisure and associated trusts used facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to monitor employee attendance at 38 leisure facilities. The ICO found they unlawfully processed biometric data of over 2,000 employees. Enforcement notices were issued ordering them to stop.
- Company involved
- Serco Leisure Operating Limited
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Italian DPA says Interior Ministry's Sari Real Time facial recognition lacks legal basis
The Garante per la protezione dei dati personali issued an opinion on Sari Real Time, a facial recognition system developed for the Italian Ministry of Interior. The system, yet to become operational, would compare live video footage of people in public areas with a watch-list and alert police operators. The authority found the planned biometric processing lacked a specific legal basis under Italian law and Directive (EU) 2016/680, and warned it could turn targeted surveillance into mass surveillance.
- Company involved
- Ministero dell'Interno – Dipartimento della pubblica sicurezza
- AI system involved
- Sari Real Time
10 source articles · read the reporting →
