Purpose

The bill would require facial recognition technology to be used during every driver’s license or Minnesota identification card application or renewal. Its goals are to prevent identity fraud, ensure someone isn’t issued more than one license or ID, and speed up processing times.

Main Provisions

• Application of facial recognition:

  • For each license/ID application or renewal, the state must use facial recognition software to analyze the applicant’s facial features and compare them to photos and data stored in the Department of Public Safety’s records, relevant FBI records, and other sources that provide law enforcement or criminal history information.
  • The software uses mathematical algorithms to identify facial features and make matches.

• Review of possible matches:

  • If the facial recognition system identifies a possible identity match, a department employee must review the match to decide if it is valid.
  • If the match is deemed valid, the commissioner cannot issue the license or ID to that applicant until the match is invalidated, and the matter must be referred to an appropriate law enforcement agency.

• Law enforcement evaluation and potential prosecution:

  • The law enforcement agency that receives the referral must reevaluate the match and inform the commissioner of the results.
  • If the agency determines the match is valid, they may refer the matter for criminal prosecution, and the commissioner cannot issue the license or ID.
  • If the agency determines the match is invalid, the commissioner may issue the license or ID, subject to other requirements in the law.

• Data sources and scope:

  • The process may draw on the Department of Public Safety records, FBI records, and other relevant databases or record systems that provide law enforcement or criminal history information.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a formal requirement to use facial recognition in the driver’s license and Minnesota identification card application and renewal process.
• Creates a multi-step identity verification workflow involving:
  • automated facial recognition matches,
  • human review by a department employee,
  • referral to law enforcement for validation,
  • potential criminal prosecution if law enforcement considers the match valid.
• Introduces simultaneous objectives of fraud prevention, prevention of duplicate licensing, and faster processing, tied to background data from state and federal sources.

Practical Implications

• The process adds several new steps before issuing a license or ID, potentially delaying issuance if a match is found and validated.
• It formalizes cooperation between the Department of Public Safety and law enforcement, with an emphasis on possible criminal charges when a match is deemed valid.

Terminology and Key Concepts (from the bill text)

• facial recognition technology
• facial recognition software
• mathematical algorithms
• features of the applicant’s face
• photographs
• Department of Public Safety
• driver and identification card records
• relevant FBI records
• identity match
• department employee review
• validity of the match
• law enforcement entity
• referral
• criminal prosecution
• issuance denial
• Minnesota identification card
• application or renewal

Relevant Terms - facial recognition - identity match - driver's license - Minnesota identification card - application - renewal - facial recognition software - mathematical algorithms - features of the face - photographs - Department of Public Safety - FBI records - law enforcement - criminal history information - issuance denial - referral - prosecution