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ACLU opposes fed access to Ohio’s law-enforcement database
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is urging Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine to reject federal law-enforcement access to a state database that includes photos of residents.
The ACLU made the request in a letter to DeWine after the group reviewed news reports and communications between the state office and the FBI on potential negotiations on state law-enforcement records.
“Letting the FBI into [Ohio’s law- enforcement database, commonly referred to as OHLEG] would give the federal government access to millions of photographs from sources including drivers’ licenses, criminal mug shots and corrections photos,” Gary Daniels, the ACLU of Ohio’s chief lobbyist, said in a released statement.
“The FBI has a history of employing secret mass surveillance, and documented problems with management of facial recognition technology,” the statement continues. “We question why Ohio would consider giving the FBI even more ability to access personal information, with minimum security and oversight, and with no opportunity for public input.”
DeWine’s office, however, says no formal request or decision on the issue has been made.
“The FBI has not formally requested any OHLEG access at this time,” spokesman Dan Tierney said in a statement. “If such a request is received, the attorney general will submit the request to both the OHLEG Advisory Committee, including civil-liberties advocates, and the OHLEG Steering Committee for review before a determination is made.”
Other states have agreed to allow the FBI to access their systems as part of law-enforcement activities. But the ACLU, in its letter to DeWine, said Ohioans “deserve to know about such technology, its privacy implications and the effects if could have on their lives” before any agreement is approved in the state.