May 16, 2025
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have begun using a controversial AI tool called Track, developed by Veritone, to monitor and identify individuals without relying on facial recognition. Instead of analyzing biometric data, Track uses a range of attributes such as body size, gender, hair color, clothing, and accessories to trace people across different video feeds. The tool is currently used by more than 400 clients, including local police departments, universities, and federal agencies like the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Veritone claims the system can even track individuals when their faces are obscured, raising new privacy concerns at a time when traditional facial recognition is facing increasing legal restrictions.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warn that Track introduces a sweeping new scale of surveillance that could be just as invasive as facial recognition, if not more so. While laws in places like California and Maine restrict facial recognition use, Track exploits a legal gray area by avoiding what is legally defined as biometric data. ACLU analysts argue that the ability to follow someone across days of footage based on clothing and body type poses a significant threat to personal privacy and civil liberties. Despite claims that the technology is a tool to streamline video analysis, civil rights advocates fear it may lead to overreach, especially as federal agencies face scrutiny for monitoring immigrants, protesters, and political dissent.
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SOURCE: Technocracy News