CBP to Strengthen ‘Tactical Targeting,’ ‘Counter-Network Analysis’ With Clearview AI
(FedScoop, Feb 11, 2026)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans a one-year base contract with Clearview AI to expand facial recognition and biometric targeting, including 15 licenses for analysts at the National Targeting Center and access to a database described as 60+ billion publicly available images. The procurement is positioned to boost open-source, biometrics-driven “tactical targeting” and “counter-network analysis,” as lawmakers simultaneously push bills to restrict or ban DHS components’ biometric and facial-recognition use.
Lawmakers Considering Rules for Chatbots, Facial Recognition Technology
(NBC Connecticut, Feb 11, 2026)
Connecticut lawmakers advanced a consumer protection proposal that would increase transparency around AI use, including disclosures when retailers deploy facial recognition to deter theft and when employers use AI to screen job applicants. The discussion highlighted privacy concerns and due-process questions—such as how someone could challenge a store ban triggered by facial recognition—alongside broader efforts to set guardrails for high-risk AI systems.
Standing Near the Grenade: BIPA Doesn’t Reach Entities That Facilitate — But Do Not “Acquire” — Biometric Data
(JD Supra, Feb 11, 2026)
An Illinois Appellate Court, Third District ruling in Salinas v. Arthur Schuman Midwest, LLC found staffing agencies did not “collect, capture, or otherwise obtain” fingerprints under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act when they merely enrolled workers in a biometric timeclock and instructed them on use, because the agencies never acquired or controlled the biometric data. The decision narrows Section 15(b) exposure for intermediaries that facilitate biometric workflows without possessing the underlying identifiers, while leaving open potential liability theories where an entity exercises control (e.g., vicarious or joint-employer relationships).
British Transport Police Begins Live Facial Recognition Trial at London Stations
(The Standard, Feb 11, 2026)
British Transport Police has launched a six-month pilot deploying live facial recognition at London Bridge station and other London stations, using cameras that scan faces against a watchlist of people wanted for serious offences, with an officer reviewing any alerts. The force says people can take alternative routes to avoid scanning and that images of non-matches are deleted immediately, while critics including Big Brother Watch warn about discriminatory or arbitrary use as deployment expands.
End of Anonymity: How Facial Recognition Is Redefining Public Privacy
(WRAL, Feb 11, 2026)
Ubiquitous consumer cameras and face-search tools are shrinking practical anonymity in public, making it easier to identify people from incidental footage and images. The story highlights how law enforcement can pair camera captures with facial recognition platforms such as Clearview AI to generate rapid candidate matches—while raising concerns about consent, data sourcing, accuracy, and oversight.
