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GAO-02-438R 1 (2002-03-14)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaalyf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: £ Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548 March 14, 2002 The Honorable Dick Armey Majority Leader House of Representatives Subject: Federal Funding for Selected Surveillance Technologies Dear Mr. Armey: In recent years, law enforcement officials have relied increasingly on new technologies to aid them in accomplishing their enforcement responsibilities. Although the use of some of these technologies has raised concerns about their effect on individuals' privacy, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have prompted calls for increased use of surveillance technologies to combat terrorism and other crimes that threaten the security of our nation. This letter responds to your July 2001 request that we gather information on the federal government's role in funding the research and deployment of three surveillance technologies and in promoting those technologies. The three technologies about which we gathered information (as of June 30, 2001) are facial recognition, red light cameras, and photo radar devices. Background Facial recognition is a developing technology, based on biometrics,' that can be used for identification purposes. In facial recognition, a facial geometry biometric is created by conversion of an image of a face into digital code. A computer can then compare the converted photograph with information in an established database. For example, for law enforcement purposes, a database can be created from police mug shots of convicted criminals such as sex offenders or shoplifters, from photographs of missing children, or from intelligence photographs of suspected terrorists. Facial recognition can also be used for other purposes, such as to control access to restricted areas or to prevent identity fraud. Other forms of biometric technologies include retinal scanning, fingerprint imaging, and signature or voice recognition. Red light cameras are devices designed to help enforce traffic laws by automatically photographing vehicles that enter intersections after the traffic signal has turned red. ' Biometrics refers to the use of a person's physical characteristics or personal behavioral traits (e.g., fingerprints, signature verification, iris scan, hand or finger geometry, facial recognition) to identify, or verify the claimed identity of, that individual. Biometric technology can be used to verify the true identity of individuals accessing information systems and entering secured facilities. GAO-02-438R Surveillance Technologies

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