On September 15, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) posted a request for information (RFI) for Open-Source Facial Recognition (FR) Capabilities. Responses are due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern on October 15.
Responses to this RFI are intended to identify capable parties who (1) conduct ongoing collection of open-source and publicly available images and (2) offer a face recognition (FR) capability to customers enabling them to search their face images against the collected open-source and publicly available images and receive a list of highest probably match candidates. FR technology (FRT) has become more commercialized in recent years and the FBI would like to have a better understanding of which companies are actively part of this industry. The information gathered may be used to support future acquisition strategies for competitive solicitations.
The FBI uses FRT in support of assessments and predicated investigations opened in accordance with the Attorney General Guidelines for FBI Operations. Using FRT allows the FBI to develop investigative leads in support of authorized FBI law enforcement, national security, intelligence, and public safety activities. Investigative leads are often derived from open-source images posted on social media profiles, Internet sites, and the dark web; for example, individuals often use social media to communicate, coordinate, and conduct criminal activity. The ability to rapidly generate investigative leads and discover other information relevant to active investigations is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and mitigating other threats.
Counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and violent crime investigations all involve significant harm, or threats of harm, to human life and commonly unfold very quickly. These investigations also involve subjects who are not presently in the United States (U.S.), have entered the U.S. using fictious identity documents, or who otherwise take measures conceal their identities. Violent crime subjects are known to flaunt their criminal activities and the proceeds of those activities online under false names in their social media. Searching government-maintained repositories, e.g., drivers’ license and passport photo repositories, will therefore not always provide useful information. The use of open-source FRT could support the FBI’s mission of protecting the American people and upholding the U.S. Constitution.
Review the FBI facial recognition RFI.
Source: SAM
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