Government Surveillance: How ATF Uses
Facial Recognition on Firearm Owners

A growing number of reports indicate that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has access to and utilizes facial recognition technology to identify and track firearm owners. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has confirmed ATF's use of systems like Clearview AI and Vigilant Solutions, which compile billions of facial images from publicly available sources, including social media, news sites, and mugshots.

ATF's Use of Facial Recognition Raises Constitutional Concerns

A 2021 GAO report found that ATF lacked proper oversight regarding its employees' use of non-federal facial recognition systems. Employees initially used the technology without formal training, raising concerns about accuracy, potential misidentifications, and violations of civil liberties. GAO emphasized that government surveillance could have a "chilling effect" on the exercise of constitutional rights—including the Second Amendment.

Between October 2019 and March 2022, ATF reportedly conducted 549 facial recognition searches on gun owners. While ATF claimed in April 2023 that it had discontinued its use of such services, new information suggests otherwise. .....