DHS/USSS/PIA-033 USSS Use of Facial Recognition Technology

The United States Secret Service (USSS or Secret Service) is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because Secret Service personnel may use facial recognition technology (FRT) during law enforcement activities that fall within Secret Service’s jurisdiction. Use of facial recognition technology requires the collection and maintenance of personally identifiable information (PII): facial images. Use of facial recognition technology assists Secret Service law enforcement personnel with developing investigative leads involving suspected criminals engaged in counterfeiting, financial crimes, and cyber-enabled crimes. Pursuant to an authorized criminal investigation, Secret Service personnel assigned to a case may utilize the DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management’s Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT), and other government agency facial recognition technology, through which photographs and/or still video images are used for database searches or one-to-one comparisons to potentially generate investigative leads. The Secret Service does not use commercially provided facial recognition services. This Privacy Impact Assessment will discuss the potential privacy risks of using facial recognition technology for criminal investigative purposes. September 2024