A DMV in Vermont has allegedly been caught illegally using facial recognition software, according to the ACLU.
The reason that their use of it has been deemed illegal is because according to Vermont state law, it's illegal for the DMV to be incorporating any sort of biometric identifiers into their proceedings. Despite this restriction however, the DMV is alleged to have used the software to run over 100 searches for various police departments and different agencies.
According to internal DMV documents, the ACLU says that they were able to assess that the agency had performed biometric searches for police and they are calling for an immediate stop to the procedure.
Some of the searches are for incidents that don't involve any criminal misconduct, others are for minor offenses. It's alleged that the DMV has never declined to perform one of these kinds of searches and that in conducting these searches they've violated state law by introducing biometric identifiers into their procedures.
The ACLU allegedly sent the DMV an 11-page letter that outlines their privacy and civil liberties concerns that are related to the use of the agencies facial recognition program.
And Vermont isn't the only state where the DMV has allegedly conducted these searches to help police, at least 16 different states have DMV databases that can be accessed by the FBI.
And when it comes to facial recognition mismatches, they have been known to happen. Errors do occur when it comes to forensic evaluation; these methods aren't fail-proof.
The state of Vermont is now allegedly suspending the facial recognition technology now that the ACLU has raised questions about it and the possible illegal use of it. Just this week, Gov. Phil Scott ordered the DMV to immediately suspend the use of the program pending a formal review into the matter in order to determine if their use of it was in violation of state law.
Pics:
Stegerphoto/Getty Images
Sources:
http://findbiometrics.com/vermont-dmv-biometric-searches-aclu-405252/
http://www.planetbiometrics.com/article-details/i/5896/desc/us-rights-body-calls-for-end-to-dmv-face-recognition/
http://www.vocativ.com/329871/fbi-dmv-facial-recognition/
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/13/how-a-facial-recognition-mismatch-can-ruin-your-life/
https://vtdigger.org/2017/05/25/state-halts-facial-recognition-program-review-legality/