A Cyber Attack which took place on a federal subcontractor working for the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is said to have leaked photos of travelers and license plates in May this year. However, authorities have confirmed that none of the images were posted online so far or there is evidence that the images were used for malevolent purposes.
As a precautionary measure, the services linked to the sub-contractor were removed from service and the federal authorities have ordered the partners of CBP to investigate the incident on a collective note.
The Members of Congress were informed about the data breach on June 3rd after the attack was identified on May 31st, 2019.
Cybersecurity Insiders has learned that CBP was till date capturing the faces of travelers transiting through different US airports- via Face- Matching Center called Biometrics collection center located at the exit point.
It has to be noted over here that the data breach identification took place just a week after the announcement that the CBP wants to expand its massive face recognition apparatus.
“Only way to avoid such data breaches is to stop collecting personal data and not to retain it for longer periods of time,” says Neema Singh Guliani, Senior legislature, American Civil Liberties Union.
United States Congress has taken note of the incident and has decided to investigate the agency’s data practices.
