Department of Homeland Security Announces New Policies to Advance Responsible Use of AI
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled new policies on September 14th, aimed at ensuring officials utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in a responsible manner to further the department’s missions.
The policies were developed by the DHS Artificial Intelligence Task Force, established by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in April. These policies build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to manage AI risks and harness its benefits, according to the department’s announcement.
“Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool we must harness effectively and responsibly,” stated Mr. Mayorkas. “Our Department must keep pace with this rapidly evolving technology in a transparent and respectful manner, ensuring the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of everyone we serve.”
Under the new policies, DHS will ensure that its facial recognition and face capture technologies undergo extensive testing and oversight to prevent unintended bias or disparate impact, in accordance with national standards.
The policy also guarantees U.S. citizens the right to opt-out of face recognition for specific non-law enforcement purposes, while prohibiting its use as the sole basis for any law or civil enforcement-related action.
Furthermore, the policies establish a review process for department oversight offices, including the Privacy Office, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, to assess all new uses of face recognition and face capture technologies.
The new policy applies to the DHS acquisition and use of AI and machine learning, ensuring that the department’s systems, programs, and activities promote trustworthy use of the technology in accordance with federal law.
A Border Patrol agent gestures as illegal immigrants prepare to board a bus to a U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing into Arizona from Mexico in Yuma, Ariz., on May 11, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
AI Technology Being Used at Southern Border
In addition, the policy mandates that DHS will only acquire and use AI in a manner consistent with federal law, ensuring that data used in AI activities is not collected, used, or disseminated based on inappropriate considerations such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, nationality, medical condition, or disability.
DHS emphasized that it is rapidly adopting AI to advance various missions, including combating fentanyl trafficking, strengthening supply chain security, countering sexual exploitation, and protecting critical infrastructure.
Moreover, the department has extensively implemented AI technology along the U.S.-Mexico border, utilizing over 200 surveillance cameras to detect and flag human crossings, according to Reuters.
As part of the announcement, DHS appointed Chief Information Officer Eric Hysen as the department’s first chief AI officer.
“Artificial intelligence provides the Department with new ways to carry out our mission to secure the homeland,” said Mr. Hysen. “The policies we are announcing today will ensure that the Department’s use of AI is free from discrimination and fully compliant with the law, maintaining the public’s trust.”
Illegal immigrants board vans after waiting along the border wall to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing upon crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 11, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Hysen will serve as the department’s chief AI officer, promoting AI innovation and safety, while advising Mr. Mayorkas and department leadership on AI-related matters, according to DHS.
He will also continue to fulfill his role as the department’s chief information officer, officials confirmed.
CBP Utilizing AI ’Data Collection Tool’
These policies come after reports emerged earlier this year that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal agency under DHS, was employing an AI data collection tool to gather publicly available information, including social media activity, which in some cases could be linked to Americans’ Social Security or driver’s license numbers.
According to CBP, the AI tool, known as Babel X and developed by Babel Street, is a social media and web-monitoring platform being piloted to support CBP targeting, vetting, operations, and analysis (pdf).
The tool is used to search for telephone numbers, email addresses, and usernames to gather confirmatory or derogatory information and identify national security threats, as stated by CBP.
Information collected by the tool, primarily for travelers, individuals seeking benefits, and persons of interest, may include a person’s name, date of birth, address, email address, phone number, social media usernames, content, images, IP address, Social Security number, driver’s license number, and more.
CBP noted that personally identifiable information obtained through the software may be collected and disseminated.
CBP did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment on the AI tool.
Efthymis Oraiopoulos contributed to this report.
How will the DHS ensure that facial recognition and face capture technologies are tested and overseen to prevent bias or disparate impact?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently announced new policies aimed at promoting responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support the department’s missions. These policies, developed by the DHS Artificial Intelligence Task Force, reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to harnessing the benefits of AI while managing its risks.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of harnessing AI effectively and responsibly in a transparent and respectful manner. He stated, “Our Department must keep pace with this rapidly evolving technology, ensuring the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of everyone we serve.”
One of the key aspects of the new policies focuses on the use of facial recognition and face capture technologies. DHS will ensure that these technologies undergo extensive testing and oversight to prevent unintended bias or disparate impact. National standards will be followed to guarantee fairness and accuracy.
Furthermore, the policies include provisions that protect the rights of U.S. citizens. Individuals will have the right to opt-out of face recognition for specific non-law enforcement purposes. Additionally, the use of facial recognition technology as the sole basis for any law or civil enforcement-related action will be prohibited
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