IDENT (biometric identication system)
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The Automated Biometric Identification System, commonly known as IDENT, is an automated biometric identification system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to process and store biometric data, along with other relevant information (such as name, address, or date of capture, among others) for the purposes of "national security; law enforcement; immigration and border management; intelligence; background investigations for national security positions and certain positions of public trust" [1][2] and "associated testing, training, management reporting, planning and analysis, or other administrative uses."[3]
IDENT began operation in 1994 [4][5] and was developed by the now-dissolved Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
IDENT was later transferred to the DHS, where it was used as part of the US-VISIT program, but it later became more widely used by DHS as their central system for biometric data.[5]
The GAO has previously claimed IDENT is outdated, and DHS intends to replace it with the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART), which is not yet operational. DHS initiated development of HART in 2016, but it has faced many delays [6] and budget cuts.[7]