Changes: Facial Recognition Technology: Privacy and Accuracy Issues Related to Commercial Uses

Revision as of 05:12, 9 December 2020

Citation

GAO, Facial Recognition Technology: Privacy and Accuracy Issues Related to Commercial Uses, (GAO-20-522) (July 13, 2020) (full-text).

Overview

Facial recognition technology can verify or identify an individual from a facial image. Advocacy groups and others have raised privacy concerns related to private companies' use of the technology, as well as concerns that higher error rates among some demographic groups could lead to disparate treatment.

GAO was asked to review the commercial use of facial recognition technology and related accuracy and privacy issues. Among other issues, this report examines how companies use the technology, its accuracy and how accuracy differs across demographic groups, and how privacy issues are addressed in laws and industry practices.

GAO analyzed laws; reviewed literature and company documentation; interviewed federal agency officials; and interviewed representatives from companies, industry groups, and privacy groups. GAO also reviewed selected privacy frameworks, chosen based on expert recommendations and research.

What GAO Recommends

GAO reiterates its previous suggestion from a 2013 report (GAO-13-663) that Congress consider strengthening the consumer privacy framework to reflect changes in technology and the marketplace.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 == Overview ==
+[[Facial recognition technology]] can [[verify]] or [[identify]] an individual from a [[facial image]]. Advocacy groups and others have raised [[privacy]] concerns related to private companies' use of the technology, as well as concerns that higher error rates among some demographic groups could lead to disparate treatment.
+GAO was asked to review the commercial use of facial recognition technology and related accuracy and privacy issues. Among other issues, this report examines how companies use the technology, its accuracy and how accuracy differs across demographic groups, and how privacy issues are addressed in laws and industry practices.
+GAO analyzed laws; reviewed literature and company documentation; interviewed federal agency officials; and interviewed representatives from companies, industry groups, and privacy groups. GAO also reviewed selected privacy frameworks, chosen based on expert recommendations and research.
+What GAO Recommends
+GAO reiterates its previous suggestion from a 2013 report (GAO-13-663) that Congress consider strengthening the consumer privacy framework to reflect changes in technology and the marketplace.