Live data from Hacker News

FBI Child ID App

fbi.gov

31–40 of 249 posts

Re: FBI Child ID App

#32
There's a funny rendering problem with the pdf brochure where their assurance that it's not collecting information is split up and pasted in the wrong places. Making the document start with this sentence: "collecting or storing any photos or information that you enter in the app".

https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/child-id-app-brochure.pd...

Re: FBI Child ID App

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember being fingerprinted in elementary school. Is this still common practice in USA?

I don't remember anything like that happening to me. I hope that's not common.

Very common. I suspect they slowed down post-2020.

https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=elementary%20(fingerprin...

Re: FBI Child ID App

#34

why does the inner cycnic in my think this is just to get some facial recognition data

That's what I was thinking -- what incentive does the FBI have to develop this?

To prevent child crimes? That's a big mission of the FBI.

See also ECAP: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap

Re: FBI Child ID App

#35
post #8

Initially I thought that it would be satire, then I recognized the domain. I have a weird feeling about this, but can't put a finger on it.

Isn't this fairly easy to investigate and find out? If the app never phones home then it really isn't an issue.

Re: FBI Child ID App

#36
post #14

What's the point in this app? Surely most mothers/fathers have pictures of their kids on their phone these days anyway

After the July 4 mass shooting a 2 year old was found wondering the scene unattended. He was safely returned to relatives. Sure I have pictures of my kids but am I alive to display them?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62047223

Re: FBI Child ID App

#37
post #8

Initially I thought that it would be satire, then I recognized the domain. I have a weird feeling about this, but can't put a finger on it.

Isn't this fairly easy to investigate and find out? If the app never phones home then it really isn't an issue.

A future update of the app might start phoning home.

Re: FBI Child ID App

#38

While i understand the skepticism, at least they are trying to streamline a process. a quick search reveals the startling statistic: Every 40 seconds, a child goes missing or is abducted in the United States. Approximately 840,000 children are reported missing each year. having access to rapid id/photo. Minutes are precious. I'm no expert but + for fbi, minus for the cynics. Just my 2 cents

That stat isn't as startling as it seems when you dig in; most of those are custody disputes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/most-kidnapped-childr... > But contrary to the dominant narrative, nearly all child abductions are perpetrated by family members. Stranger abductions — certainly alarming and tragic — actually occur with “lightning-strike rarity,” as a report in the journal Criminal Justice Studies put…

No post body was provided.

Re: FBI Child ID App

#39
post #8

Initially I thought that it would be satire, then I recognized the domain. I have a weird feeling about this, but can't put a finger on it.

There's no way of saying it without sounding sarcastic that yes, this feels like a scam, if not just a bad idea. The fact that they have to come out and say, "no, we're not storing pictures of your kids" doesn't help. The idea of the app is sound, and one would hope you could trust the Federal Government with such information (like they don't have it already), but the iOS6 era screenshots and verbiage feel like a rea…

I think this might be abandonware.

Re: FBI Child ID App

#40
post #8

Initially I thought that it would be satire, then I recognized the domain. I have a weird feeling about this, but can't put a finger on it.

There's no way of saying it without sounding sarcastic that yes, this feels like a scam, if not just a bad idea. The fact that they have to come out and say, "no, we're not storing pictures of your kids" doesn't help. The idea of the app is sound, and one would hope you could trust the Federal Government with such information (like they don't have it already), but the iOS6 era screenshots and verbiage feel like a rea…

I agree the design is definitely outdated. It's also hilarious that it's exactly the kind of look I would've expected from an app released by the FBI.
Post reply on HN