Updates
EPIC Urges CBP to Pause its Expansion of Facial Recognition at the Border
October 28, 2024

This afternoon, EPIC submitted comments to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) urging it to refrain from expanding the use of facial recognition technology as part of its Biometric Entry-Exit (BE-E) Program. The proposed expansion would deploy facial recognition to identify individuals in moving vehicles crossing the border. Travelers in an estimated 2 million vehicles are expected to be captured by the technology.
As EPIC has long warned, facial recognition technology poses unique dangers to privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights—particularly for marginalized communities. Similarly, using FRT as a form of digital ID removes a person’s control of their identity and places it with the government, which will have even further ability to identify them without their knowledge. These harms are heightened by the lack of any federal safeguards providing oversight and accountability for the collection and use of biometric information.
EPIC urged CBP to refrain from any uses of facial recognition and suspend the BE-E program until Congress implements safeguards and seriously considers the implications of using biometrics as a form of digital identification.

Support Our Work
EPIC's work is funded by the support of individuals like you, who allow us to continue to protect privacy, open government, and democratic values in the information age.
Donate