$128 million for centralized collection of personal data – all in the name of “American security”
Leo Hohmann
We live in the midst of a historic and accelerating convergence of biometric surveillance and a national security infrastructure capable of collecting endless amounts of personal data from immigrants and Americans alike.
The latest evidence of this trend: Biometric Update reports that the FBI has signed a one-year, $128 million contract with Leidos to modernize the agency’s extensive biometric and criminal database — the so-called NGI (Next Generation Identification) system. The FBI has the option to extend the contract for up to four years.
The article says:
“The agreement announced Tuesday represents the latest development in the FBI’s decades-long effort to centralize and improve how federal, state, local and international partners use rapidly evolving biometric technology to identify individuals suspected of criminal activity or who have been flagged for national security purposes.”
Leidos: A Partner in Expanding Biometric Technology
Roy Stevens, President of Leidos National Security Sector, said:
“Leidos has a long history of working with the FBI to deliver critical biometric systems, including NGI, the largest and most efficient electronic repository of biometric and criminal data. Leidos’ collaboration with the FBI to improve the accuracy of the system will facilitate the identification of more criminals, thereby contributing to America’s security.”
NGI – the world’s most comprehensive biometric system
According to Biometric Update, NGI is much more than just storing fingerprints.
It is the world’s most comprehensive biometric identity system. It includes multimodal data inputs such as facial recognition, palm prints, iris scans, voice data, scars and tattoos – and increasingly, behavioral biometrics.
Since its initial launch in 2011, NGI has served as the central operating system for the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. It processes millions of biometric transactions daily and supports hundreds of thousands of users in law enforcement, immigration, counterterrorism, and border control.
Modernization with artificial intelligence and cloud integration
The new contract with Leidos requires a major upgrade of NGI’s digital architecture and operational capabilities. This modernization includes the following:
- Integrating new biometric matching algorithms
- Artificial intelligence-based, machine learning-based analytics
- Support for mobile and cloud-based applications
- Reviewing software and hardware infrastructure to improve flexibility, speed, and interoperability
More contracts – even more control
This agreement follows another one signed with Leidos in May, worth $130 million over five years, to implement a biometric services fingerprint analysis support program.
According to the biometric update, this agreement represents the following:
“This is a significant development in the FBI’s efforts to modernize and enhance its biometric identification capabilities and solidifies Leidos’ position as a key partner in advancing federal law enforcement technology infrastructure.”
A high-tech police state is emerging
It is more of a beastly system, evolving at an enormous speed before our eyes.
Putting such technology in the hands of a notoriously corrupt and, in my opinion, unconstitutional institution is unconscionable.
But at this point, nothing can stop progress, not when there is a super-technologist in the White House surrounded by henchmen who demand endless “improvements” in technological surveillance with all kinds of tagging and tracking capabilities.
Washington is out of control – and is quickly transforming America into a high-tech police state.
