DataWorks Plus LLC
TypePrivate
Founded2000 (2000)
Key people
  • Brad Bylenga (CEO)
  • Todd Pastorini (EVP and GM)
Websitedataworksplus.com

DataWorks Plus LLC is a privately held[1] biometrics systems integrator based in Greenville, South Carolina. The company started in 2000 and originally focused on mugshot management, adding facial recognition beginning in 2005. Brad Bylenga is the CEO, and Todd Pastorini is the EVP and GM.[2][3] Usage of the technology by police departments has resulted in wrongful arrests.[4][5]

Products

The company focuses on biometrics storage and matching, including fingerprints, palm prints, irises, tattoos, and mugshots.[2]

Face Watch can continuously detect on live video streams, recognizing faces on individual video frames and cataloging the timestamps.[1]

FACE Plus is their photo (still image) facial recognition program. It includes advanced filtering and can reconstruct a 3D model from photos to correct their angle, called pose correction.[1]

DataWorks uses facial recognition algorithms from NEC,[2] Rank One Computing (of Colorado, CEO Brendan Klare),[2] and Cognitec.[6] Both the NEC and Rank One algorithms showed algorithmic bias in a NIST study.[7][2] DataWorks' EVP and GM, Todd Pastorini told New York Times that they don't formally measure the accuracy or bias, but "We've become a pseudo-expert in the technology".[2][6]

Installations

California

DataWorks created the "California Facial Recognition Interconnect". This statewide face recognition network is used by the Los Angeles County Sheriff (9 million images),[8][9] San Diego County Sheriff (2.5 million images), Sacramento County Sheriff (1.75 million images), San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department/Riverside County Sheriff's Department (2.7 million images), Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office (since 2012, 1 million images), San Francisco Police Department (1 million images; see below), and unidentified agencies in San Mateo County and San Joaquin County.[10][6]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff, using Cognitec's algorithm, acquired in 2008 on a 7-year contract, and signed a 7-year, $3.5m contract extension in 2015. The contract renewal was approved unanimously by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.[11] In addition to Interconnect, Los Angeles County has access to fingerprinting, facial recognition, tattoo matching (2 million images or templates), composite drawing, and access to DMV images in the unrelated Cal-Photo.[12]

Other California uses

The San Diego County Sheriff's use of DataWorks is well established to at least 2007. A report discussed DataWorks installing a trial of Face Plus for facial recognition that year. The facial recognition system was in place and being upgraded to use Cognitec's algorithm in 2010.[13][14]

The San Francisco Police's most recent 3-year contract was signed in 2017 for $150k per year.[15] It included what was labeled "FR Software" and a "Face Plus" server. It also included the "Mugshot database".[16] San Francisco banned government usage of facial recognition software beginning in May 2019. DataWorks's Pastorini said their tools don't use neural nets or machine learning like Microsoft's Face API or Amazon Rekognition, stating "the Amazon searches are not the best forensic searches". He said banning is unfortunate because there wasn't evidence of misuse in San Francisco.

San Jose Police Department has been using the DataWorks fingerprint biometric system from at least 2011.[10]

Florida

DataWorks says they have sold over 5000 fingerprint devices in the state of Florida.[1]

Michigan

DataWorks has worked with the Michigan DMV (Department of Public Safety) and the Michigan State Police since 2001. Their database contains at least 8 million criminal images and 32 million DMV photos.[2] DataWorks and Michigan State Police integrated with the FBI's Next Generation Identification facial recognition pilot. Later they added the Maryland Department of Public Safety's system to the FBI system. This system includes 25 agencies and over 1000 users.[17][1]

The City of Detroit and Detroit Police Department, with access to at least 500k mugshots, signed a 3-year $1m contract with DataWorks for "FACE Watch Plus real-time video surveillance".[1][18] It consumes feeds from Project Green Light, which is a network of over 500 cameras on public and private property.[19] It includes cameras on stoplights as well as gas stations, pharmacies, health clinics, churches, apartments, hotels, and (beginning in 2018) schools.[20] The 2017 DataWorks contract references being used for 100 video feeds. Additionally, the Crime Intelligence Unit is licensed to use the Michigan's Statewide Network of Agency Photos (SNAP) with DataWorks, adding access to DMV photos. DataWorks is integrated with Motorola's Command Central Aware Console.[21][22]

In a June 29, 2020 meeting, Detroit's police chief said Dataworks failed to make a correct identification 96% of the time. In a report, the Detroit police tally indicated they had used the Dataworks facial recognition for 70 images by June 22, year-to-date (2020). At least 68 of the 70 were on Black people, and 65 of the 70 were on men. Dataworks' Pastorini said they don't keep statistics, nor do they tell their customers how to use their software.[23]

In February 2023, a Black woman, eight months pregnant, was arrested for carjacking based on a DataWorks facial recognition match..[4] This was the third wrongful arrest in Detroit using the technology[5]

Chicago

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Transit Authority are using "FACE Watch Plus" (realtime recognition) on Chicago's security camera network, which includes approximately 20,000 video cameras. This is integrated with Genetec's Omnicast. DataWorks noted they provide both "Real Time Screening" and "Facial Recognition". Their system includes 7 million criminal photos and states they use "the system primarily to solve crimes using probes generate dfrom street cameras, Facebook, and other sources."[20][17][1][2]

Others

In Maryland, DataWorks created a statewide system integrating DMV photos (7 million) and criminal photos (2 million) from Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The FBI's facial recognition system is also integrated. They also supplied three mobile license plate recognition systems purchased in 2007 for $60k.[24][1][25][2]

In Pennsylvania, on their JNET (Justice Network) system, DataWorks created the JNET Facial Recognition System (JFRS), which is integrated with PENN DOT's DMV photos (from MorphoTrust) and the Commonwealth Photo Imaging System (CPIN). This is used by the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, and Philadelphia Police Department.[1] During the George Floyd Protests in June 2020, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania police commissioner Thomas Carter asked for images showing vandalism and assault on a police officer, stating "Hopefully, we can pick her image up. If we can, we can do facial recognition".[26]

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and South Carolina DMV uses the FACE Plus system, which includes the state's 8.5 million DMV images. Charleston County, South Carolina Sheriff is also a customer.[17][1][27]

The New York Police Department uses facial recognition from DataWorks Plus.[28]

A national system upgrade in New Zealand is scheduled to be completed by late 2020 for an estimated NZ$5 million. It would include facial recognition from security camera still images, criminal images, firearms license holders, missing persons, and registered sex offenders. DataWorks's Pastorini said "we don't make accuracy statements" when asked about the reliability of the system. NZ's Privacy Commissioner wasn't even aware of the installation. When asked, Pastorini said he wasn't familiar with New Zealand's Privacy Act.[25][29][30]

DataWorks Plus claims "over 1000 agencies", which includes the Virginia State Police, Wake County CCBI and Raleigh Police Department, Miami Dade Police Department, Collier County Sheriff's Office (Naples, Florida), Columbus Police Department (Ohio), Irving, Texas Police Department, and the New Jersey/New York High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.[1][6][26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Professional Services Contract Between City of Detroit, Michigan And DataWorks Plus – contract no 6000801". MuckRock. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kashmir Hill (24 June 2020). "Wrongfully Accused by an Algorithm". nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "Dataworks Plus, LLC – GovTribe". GovTribe. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 Kashmir Hill (6 August 2023). "Eight Months Pregnant and Arrested After False Facial Recognition Match". nytimes.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 Kelly Kasulis Cho (7 August 2023). "Woman sues Detroit after facial recognition mistakes her for crime suspect". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gershgorn, Dave (1 August 2019). "California Police Are Sharing Facial Recognition Databases to ID Suspects". Medium. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "NIST IR 8280: Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) Part 3: Demographic Effects" (PDF). nvlpubs.nist.gov. December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Ali Winston (3 July 2015). "Los Angeles sheriff invests in new tech to expand biometric database". Reveal. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Ali Winston (20 January 2015). "LA Facial Recognition Dataworks 01 2015 1". Reveal via documentcloud.org. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 Aaron Cantú (10 December 2015). "Explore the defense industry's ties to police biosurveillance in California". MuckRock. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Board of Supervisors Statement of Proceedings" (PDF). file.lacounty.gov. 20 January 2015. p. 25. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "APPROVE SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT WITH DATAWORKS PLUS, LLC TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE DATAWORKS DIGITAL MUGSHOT SYSTEM" (PDF). file.lacounty.gov. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "TACIDS: Tactical Identification System Using Facial Recognition" (PDF). The Automated Regional Justice Information System. 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. ↑ AUTOMATED REGIONAL JUSTICE INF. SYS. "GMS Progress Reports – Compilation" (PDF). eff.org. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "SFPD Mugshot Upgrade to 5.124". MuckRock. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "SFPD DataWorks Plus: Maintenance and Support Agreement". MuckRock. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Clare Garvie; Laura M. Moy (16 May 2019). "America Under Watch – Real-Time Facial Recognition in America". Georgetown Law, Center on Privacy & Technology. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "2017 Detroit Dataworks Contract, contract 6000801". Detroit Free Press via Scribd. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. ↑ Aaron Mondry (8 July 2019). "Criticism mounts over Detroit Police Department's facial recognition software". Curbed Detroit. Retrieved 24 June 2020. In March this year during his State of the City address, Mayor Mike Duggan announced the "Neighborhood Real-Time Intelligence Program," a $9 million, state- and federally-funded initiative that would not only expand Project Green Light by installing surveillance equipment at 500 Detroit intersections—on top of the over 500 already installed at businesses—but also utilize facial recognition software to identify potential criminals.
  20. 1 2 Barber, Gregory (17 May 2019). "Some US Cities Are Moving Into Real-Time Facial Surveillance". Wired. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  21. ↑ Amy Harmon (8 July 2019). "As Cameras Track Detroit's Residents, a Debate Ensues Over Racial Bias". nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  22. ↑ Allie Gross (16 July 2019). "Experts: Duggan's denial of facial recognition software hinges on 3 words". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  23. ↑ Jason Koebler (29 June 2020). "VICE - Detroit Police Chief: Facial Recognition Software Misidentifies 96% of the Time". vice.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020. "If we would use the software only [to identify subjects], we would not solve the case 95-97 percent of the time," Craig said. "That's if we relied totally on the software, which would be against our current policy … If we were just to use the technology by itself, to identify someone, I would say 96 percent of the time it would misidentify."
  24. ↑ "MD ALPR documents" (PDF). aclu.org. p. 30. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  25. 1 2 George Block (5 December 2019). "Privacy concerns over police's new 'state of the art' facial recognition system". Stuff. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  26. 1 2 Gershgorn, Dave (2 June 2020). "Facial Recognition Is Law Enforcement's Newest Weapon Against Protesters". Medium. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "South Carolina Public Records Law Request: DataWorks, Charleston County Sheriff's Office". MuckRock. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. ↑ Joseph Goldstein; Ali Watkins (1 August 2019). "She Was Arrested at 14. Then Her Photo Went to a Facial Recognition Database". nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  29. ↑ George Block (19 December 2019). "Police facial recognition: US academic says Kiwis deserve answers". Stuff. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  30. ↑ George Block (7 December 2019). "Police facial recognition: Privacy commissioner not consulted on new system". Stuff. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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