A critique of a facial recognition technology pilot scheme conducted by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has located that sensitive biometric knowledge was not adequately protected.
The Auto Deal with System was trialed very last calendar year by CBP. A major cybersecurity incident happened when subcontractor Perceptics, employed to operate on the pilot, transferred copies of CBP’s biometric information to its possess company network.
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The subcontractor received obtain to this data between August 2018 and January 2019 devoid of CBP’s authorization or information. Afterwards in 2019, the Division of Homeland Security knowledgeable a important privateness incident, as the subcontractor’s network was subjected to a malicious cyber-attack.
Subsequently, CBP facts, including traveler photos from CBP’s facial recognition pilot, appeared on the dark web, triggering a overview by the Place of work of the Inspector Basic (OIG).
The data breach compromised approximately 184,000 traveler photos from CBP’s facial recognition pilot. At minimum 19 of the illustrations or photos ended up afterwards posted to the dark web.
In the review, published on September 21, the OIG discovered “CBP did not adequately safeguard delicate data on an unencrypted machine employed through its facial recognition technology pilot.”
The OIG also observed that Perceptics staff “specifically violated DHS security and privacy protocols when they downloaded CBP’s sensitive PII from an unencrypted product and stored it on their have network.”
Perceptics’ actions went from a Section of Homeland Security stipulation that requires subcontractors to shield personally identifiable information and facts (PII) from identification theft or misuse.
The OIG manufactured a collection of suggestions to the CBP that involved applying USB device limits, applying increased encryption procedures, and routinely examining third-social gathering gear supporting biometric info assortment to assure partners’ compliance with Department security and privateness expectations.
Congress utilised the FY 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act to supply CBP with up to $1bn in funding around a 10-year period to acquire a biometric entry-exit resolution that will check tourists to and from the United States.
To day, CBP’s Biometric Entry-Exit Program Business office has concentrated generally on air departures, starting off with a pilot program at 9 airports across the place in 2017.
As of April 2019, CBP experienced processed 19,829 flights and 2.8 million vacationers throughout 19 airports through its biometric method.
Some parts of this article is sourced from:
www.infosecurity-journal.com