US homeland security to collect face scans of immigrant kids to train algorithms

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to collect facial images of migrant children, including infants, to enhance facial recognition technology. Assistant Director John Boyd of the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) emphasized the need for reliable data to track a child's identity over time. Currently, there are few high-quality data sets of children's faces, which poses challenges in accurately applying facial recognition to minors.

While Boyd confirmed plans for data collection, details on implementation remain unclear. Critics express concerns about privacy and consent for vulnerable populations like children. Experts argue that the ethical implications and potential for over-surveillance in such programs warrant significant scrutiny. The initiative raises questions about the use of biometric data in a surveillance-driven society, with implications beyond the border.