Test Begins Around White House to See How Facial Recognition Backs Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service has launched a facial recognition pilot at the White House to see how the technology could help confirm the identity of people in and around the building. 

For the test, the agency integrated a facial recognition system with the Crown CCTV system used inside and outside the White House complex, according to a notice posted by the Department of Homeland Security. 

The pilot aims to help the Secret Service understand how facial recognition technologies can help identify individuals that may pose threats to individuals under the agency’s protection at the presidential building.

Federal agents serve as test subjects for the pilot. But DHS noted that civilians “who do not wish to be captured by White House Complex CCTV and cameras involved in this pilot may choose to avoid the area,” FCW reported Wednesday. 

The program runs from Nov. 19 to Aug. 30, 2019.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection also launched a separate facial recognition test to monitor international travelers as part of its biometric entry and exit screening plan.