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Future Security Could Feature Facial Photos

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

May 31, 2007

The science and technology branch of the Department of Homeland Security hopes to create a system capable of taking a partial facial shot and converting it into a complete picture – giving new meaning to the term "full frontal."

Homeland Security has a $1.8 million contract with L-1 Identity Security designed to produce the new technology by May of next year. The Stamford, Conn. firm began working on the concept in December.

Casinos already use similar technology to spot card sharks and at least 20 states use it to prevent fraud in issuing licenses to drivers. It has also been tried at the Super Bowl, in various cities, and at Boston Logan Airport. But the airport tests missed nearly four of every 10 chances when volunteers posed as terrorists during a 2002 dry run.

Photographs that emphasize face recognition often fail because of the way the pictures were taken. Poor light, crazy angles, or people wearing hats or other facial disguises can defeat the purpose.

In addition, privacy advocates despise it because they say it invades the privacy of innocent bystanders, matching names with photographs.

Federal air marshals tried it briefly but dropped the concept to concentrate on older, more proven methods.

The advantage of the technology, when it works, is that photos taken by the new machines can be compared with millions more in national databases. Potential terrorists in the national photo bank would thus be stopped before they started anything.

Experts are aware of the drawbacks insist face-recognition technology remains a challenge worth pursuing.

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