Approximately half of adult Americans' photographs are stored in facial recognition databases that can be accessed by the FBI in the hunt for suspected criminals, without the subjects' knowledge or consent. The algorithms used to identify matches are inaccurate about 15 percent of the time, and are more likely to misidentify black people than white people.
From the Guardian:
The FBI first launched its advanced biometric database, Next Generation Identification, in 2010, augmenting the old fingerprint database with further capabilities including facial recognition. The bureau did not inform the public about its newfound capabilities nor did it publish a privacy impact assessment, required by law, for five years. Unlike with the collection of fingerprints and DNA, which is done following an arrest, photos of innocent civilians are being collected proactively. The FBI made arrangements with 18 different states to gain access to their databases of driver's license photos.
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