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I was speaking with an L-1 employee today, and she told me that they don't like it when you smile in your L-1 pic, because it changes the structure of your face and the computers can't reconize you as well. When I inquired "What computers?" she told me the ones that all of the police depts use for facial recognition.

Was anyone else aware that our photos were being stored in an image bank for these purposes?

I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE:

I don't think police in the USA are doing this. However, I've heard that it's common practice in the US Casinos and overseas like UK.

I've heard that the distance between your eyes is a better identifying feature than a fingerprint.

Yes, for a few years now. Aren't you happy that Britain became such a public camera crazy country and exported all that technology to us!

I know for a fact they are doing it in Florida, I was part of the debate to keep the cameras out of Tampa. (which we lost )

I just didnt know images were being compiled from sources like L-1

HotLeadSolutions wrote:I was speaking with an L-1 employee today, and she told me that they don't like it when you smile in your L-1 pic, because it changes the structure of your face and the computers can't reconize you as well. When I inquired "What computers?" she told me the ones that all of the police depts use for facial recognition.

Was anyone else aware that our photos were being stored in an image bank for these purposes?

Interesting. Of course our photos are stored someplace -- remember we used to send in two physical photos, one for the license and one for filing, I'm sure. However, if they are also being used for routine searches by other agencies....hmmmm.

Also interesting about the smiling affecting facial recognition software performance. Would like to see some more evidence of it than just the one technician, but interesting as well. The CHL instructor I went to when I lived in San Antonio was a police officer who advised us to smile for both our CHLs and Driver's licenses. He said when cops are stopping people and checking IDs, they see a lot of scowling face; seeing a smiling face wouldn't buy us much, but would at least not be a negative point.

That sounds like a good reason for a BIG smile in the L1 photo.

Not saying they're not using CHL pictures for biometric purposes, but I'd wait for a statement from someone who knows what they're talking about before passing judgement. The people at the L1 offices don't seem to be the most "in the know" people, or even trustworthy for that matter.

HotLeadSolutions wrote:I was speaking with an L-1 employee today, and she told me that they don't like it when you smile in your L-1 pic, because it changes the structure of your face and the computers can't reconize you as well. When I inquired "What computers?" she told me the ones that all of the police depts use for facial recognition.

I don't buy this reason. Even before there was such a thing as biometrics, law enforcement agencied didn't want people to smile for their photos.

ELB wrote:The CHL instructor I went to when I lived in San Antonio was a police officer who advised us to smile for both our CHLs and Driver's licenses. He said when cops are stopping people and checking IDs, they see a lot of scowling face; seeing a smiling face wouldn't buy us much, but would at least not be a negative point.

To me, this is a more plausible explanation.

The L-1 photos are so DPS can confirm that the person being fingerprinted is the person applying for a CHL. The photos are compared to Texas Driver's License photos. If the applicant doesn't have a Texas DL, the L-1 photo is compared to the photos sent in by the applicant.

Chas.

I know before when i checked my background records on the Texas DPS web site there was never a picture of me in my records even tho i have a Texas DL. After having my prints and picture taken for a background check last year thru L1 guess what that picture now shows up on my background record check on the DPS website.So i guess they are using it for something

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The L-1 photos are so DPS can confirm that the person being fingerprinted is the person applying for a CHL. The photos are compared to Texas Driver's License photos. If the applicant doesn't have a Texas DL, the L-1 photo is compared to the photos sent in by the applicant.

Chas.

Oh Charles why did you have to throw a wet blanket on all the conspiracies. I was going to post something about the scanners on the black helicopters that fly over DFW every day :)

KaiserB wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The L-1 photos are so DPS can confirm that the person being fingerprinted is the person applying for a CHL. The photos are compared to Texas Driver's License photos. If the applicant doesn't have a Texas DL, the L-1 photo is compared to the photos sent in by the applicant.

Chas.

Oh Charles why did you have to throw a wet blanket on all the conspiracies. I was going to post something about the scanners on the black helicopters that fly over DFW every day :)

Charles just said what they did with them for CHL purposes, he never said they DIDN'T do biometric identification with them otherwise.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The L-1 photos are so DPS can confirm that the person being fingerprinted is the person applying for a CHL. The photos are compared to Texas Driver's License photos. If the applicant doesn't have a Texas DL, the L-1 photo is compared to the photos sent in by the applicant.

Chas.

Chas,
You are right in this regard, but the photos do have another use. I spoke with another person (independent of employee #1) and he told me the same thing about being stored for biometric ID. It's not just CHL prints/photos it is also state employees, doctors, attorneys..etc..

Keith B wrote:

KaiserB wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The L-1 photos are so DPS can confirm that the person being fingerprinted is the person applying for a CHL. The photos are compared to Texas Driver's License photos. If the applicant doesn't have a Texas DL, the L-1 photo is compared to the photos sent in by the applicant.

Chas.

Oh Charles why did you have to throw a wet blanket on all the conspiracies. I was going to post something about the scanners on the black helicopters that fly over DFW every day :)

Charles just said what they did with them for CHL purposes, he never said they DIDN'T do biometric identification with them otherwise.

In that case did you know that the US mil is using the new FLIR units to scan faces and compare them to the international database of citizens using Facial recognition software manufactured my Microsoft. We need to to do something!

Here's a link to the website for L-1 Identity Solutions

They have several mobile units for fingerprints and photos.

http://www.l1id.com/pages/46-mobile-id- ... nforcement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;