Federal biometrics program, NextGen Identity, gets served in an EPIC way
c/o PC World
A privacy watchdog has filed a lawsuit contending the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has failed to provide requested technical information about a biometric identification database expected to be the largest in the world.
"Through the date of this pleading, the FBI has not contacted EPIC again regarding the status of either of EPIC's two FOIA requests," EPIC said in its suit.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, alleges the FBI failed to disclose documents after it filed two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in September 2012.
EPIC sought information on the FBI's "Next Generation Identification" program, which will amass biometric information on mostly U.S. citizens from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including palm prints and iris scans. New York City's police department began collecting iris scans in 2010 of people who were arrested.
According to the FBI, a multi-million dollar contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions to develop the system. When completed, it is expected to be the largest biometric database in the world, according to EPIC's lawsuit.
EPIC said it filed a FOIA request asking for the contracts of companies working on the project, which also include IBM, Accenture, BAE Systems Information Technology, Global Science and Technology, Innovative Management and Technology Services, Platinum Solutions and the National Center for State Courts. In a second FOIA request, EPIC asked for technical specifications related to the program.
The FBI contacted EPIC in October 2012 and asked the group to narrow its scope for the second FOIA request. EPIC said it has not heard back from the FBI since. Agencies are generally required to respond to a FOIA request within a month, but the deadline may be extended if an agency believes the FOIA request is not specific enough.
"Through the date of this pleading, the FBI has not contacted EPIC again regarding the status of either of EPIC's two FOIA requests," EPIC said in its suit.
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