DHS · DHS-2416 · record R1895

Traveler Identity Verification Services (Vetting)

Department of Homeland Security · CBP

Overview

Development stage: DeployedSource: c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
High-impact designation: High-impactSource: a) High-impact
Impact justification: Not reported
Start date: 2018-12-01 (day precision)Source: 2018-12-01T00:00:00
Withheld from public reporting: Not reported

Mission

Topic area: Law Enforcement
Operational functions: Biometrics and identity Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

The use of the Traveler Verification Service (TVS) enables CBP to enhance the identification of possible threats by leveraging facial recognition technology to identify biometric matches to derogatory records that are not identified through existing biographic targeting and entity resolution mechanisms.

Expected benefits

CBP's Traveler Identity Verification Services (Vetting) utilizes facial recognition technology to enhance threat identification by matching travelers' biometrics against records of concern.

System outputs

When the system identifies a potential match to concerning records, CBP personnel conducts a manual facial comparison to determine whether the record is likely associated with the individual.

Technology

AI classification: Computer visionSource: Computer Vision: AI that processes and interprets visual data (e.g., images and videos).
System name(s): Traveler Verification Service
Custom-developed code: Yes
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Contract and in-houseSource: c) Developed with both contracting and in-house resources
Vendor (as reported): NEC
Vendors (standardized): NEC

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: Yes
Privacy Impact Assessment: www.dhs.gov ↗
Authorization to Operate: Yes
Demographic features: Not reported
Training and evaluation data: Border Crossing Information.
Federal Data Catalog: Not reported

Governance

8 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingReported in placeSource: a) Yes

AI impact assessmentReported in placeSource: a) Yes

Independent reviewReported in placeSource: c) Yes – by the CAIO

Ongoing monitoringReported in placeSource: a) Yes, sufficient monitoring protocols have been established

Operator trainingReported in placeSource: a) Yes, sufficient and periodic training has been established

Fail-safeReported in placeSource: a) Yes

Appeal processNot applicableSource: b) Not applicable

User and public consultationReported in placeSource: a) Direct usability testing

Potential impacts and how they were identified

The key risk is the degradation of the TVS verification to degrade overtime based on the parameters of assessment for comparing images to templates. The facial recognition does not enter or retrieve data, it is only comparative.