Law Enforcement Agencies Accessing the Georgia Department of Driver Services' Face Recognition System
It is a clone of this request.
| Submitted | Feb. 10, 2023 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Paul Tepper
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
I would like to learn: 1) which local, state and national law enforcement agencies can currently submit probe photos to be run through the Department of Driver Services's face recognition system (image database) , and 2) which law enforcement agencies actually submitted probe photos to the Department for a search from January 1, 2020 to the date of the most recently available data.
Please provide any lists, logs or datasets showing this information. With regard to agencies that have submitted probe photos, please provide logs, lists or datasets describing, as available, the requesting organization, the number of requests made, the dates of the requests, and the number of requests granted. If the Department maintains this information in an Excel spreadsheet, I request that the record be produced in this format.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Paul Tepper
From: Department Of Driver Services
The department is in receipt of your request. At this time, we are checking for responsive records and, if necessary, will provide you with an estimate as to time and costs within 10-14 business days. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Georgia Open Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 10, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department Of Driver Services
The Department is still in the process of checking for responsive documents.
We will be in touch regarding providing an estimate for production of documents, if applicable.
From: Department Of Driver Services
This is in response to the request received via the Georgia Department of Driver Services (“DDS”) Open Records Request link.
DDS does not have a “Face Recognition System.” Therefore, DDS does not have any existing records responsive to this request and no records are being provided pursuant to OCGA § 50-18-71 (b) (1) (A).
If you are able to modify your request, feel free to utilize the DDS Open Records Request link to submit an updated request.
From: Paul Tepper
NBC news and the Georgia Senate Office of Research has reported that DDS conducts facial recognition searches.
http://www.senate.ga.gov/sro/Documents/AtIssue/State_Edition_Volume_4_Issue_1.pdf
The Senate Office of Research stated: “But DDS can also serve as essentially a ready-made database for law enforcement. When requested by a law enforcement agency, including the FBI, the DDS image database can be used to help verify a suspect’s identity. DDS searches its database on behalf of the law enforcement agency conducting a criminal investigation, but no one outside of the Department is granted access to the database.“
Are you saying that this service is no longer provided?
Thank you.
From: Department Of Driver Services
A no responsive documents response.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Georgia Open Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 10, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Georgia Open Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 10, 2023. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department Of Driver Services
See response letter attached mailed on 3/16/2023.
As emailed on 3/3/2023, if you are able to clarify your requests, please submit an updated request via the DDS Open Records Request link: https://dds.georgia.gov/organization/about-us/open-records.
