Credit: David J. Phillip, AP Photo
“Activists worry about potential abuse of face scans for ICE”
“Civil rights activists complained Monday [July 8] of the potential for widespread abuse following confirmation that at least three states have scanned millions of driver’s license photos on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement without the drivers’ knowledge or consent.
“Public records obtained by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology provided the first proof that ICE had sought such scans, which were conducted in Utah, Vermont and Washington.
“All three states — which offer driving privileges to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally — agreed to the ICE requests, according to documents shared with The Associated Press on Monday and first reported by The Washington Post.
“‘States asked undocumented people to come out of the shadows to get licenses. Then ICE turns around and uses that to find them,’ Alvaro Bedoya, the center’s director, said Monday,” by Frank Bajak, AP Technology Writer, in the Miami Herald.
“Is ICE using facial recognition to comb Washington drivers’ licenses?” Gov. Inslee says no!
“Investigative reports revealed ICE has been asking for access to license databases, but Washington says it has not granted that access.”
Gov. Jay Inslee Tweeted: “Recent news stories have led to a lot of confusion about who can access our state’s facial recognition database.
“Let me be clear: No outside agencies have access to @WA_DOL’s database,” quoting KING-5 TV News, Seattle.
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