DHS Enhances AI and Facial Recognition Efforts, Issues Survey Request

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an Information Collection Request (ICR) to assess the public’s perception of technology for national security.

In recent years, DHS has investigated potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition Americans might encounter.

According to the request, DHS plans to use this feedback to improve hardware and software design and deployment, as well as marketing the tools. Survey responses will be taken into consideration in the development of AI technology that interacts with the public, especially concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Questions to be addressed include:

• Does DHS need this collection to function properly?

• Are there ways the department can enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected?

• Using information technology, how can the department reduce the burden of collecting this information on respondents?

Though DHS officials declined to specify what these technologies will do or where they will be used, recent ICR surveys indicated that facial recognition technology may be used in a variety of locations, such as airports and public spaces.

Despite public outreach campaigns, the privacy rights of individuals are still being questioned, particularly when it comes to biometrics and data collection.

Caitlin Seeley George, Director of Campaign and Operations at Fight for the Future, a privacy advocacy group, points out that the department's administration of surveys to gauge the public's understanding of biometrics may not be accurate. She added the use of biometrics in public settings is rapidly increasing, especially since policies don't exist to prevent the use of facial recognition.

“I think for departments like DHS, they want to gather this information, but I don’t actually believe that they care that much if people support or oppose the use of it, or how much they know about it,” stated George.

As previously reported in FEDagent, the use of facial recognition technology has raised concerns among lawmakers, with reports indicating that Asian Americans and African Americans are up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified by such technology than their white counterparts.

Considering the skepticism about facial recognition biometrics that the DHS acknowledged in its ICR, officials will likely focus on respondents' views on privacy and monitoring. 

Dr. Kathleen Deloughery, Science and Technology Program Manager at DHS, emphasizes that the department must educate the public about technologies we'll be using and in what scenarios.

“In order to ensure that you have a successful technology deployment, you have to understand the public’s perception of the risks and benefits of the new technology, especially in a setting where the public is interacting with the technology,” Deloughery added.

The deadline for comments is December 6, 2021.