Are You in These Databases?

A Reality Check First

Before we start: you probably can't delete yourself from most of these databases. Government surveillance systems don't come with opt-out buttons. But you can:

• Find out what they have on you (FOIA and Privacy Act requests)
• Remove your face from Clearview AI (if you live in certain states)
• Get license plate data (recent court rulings made this possible)
• Check if you're on a watchlist (sort of)
• Stop future collection (limited options, but they exist)

Let's go database by database.

1. Clearview AI: 60 Billion Faces

Clearview AI scraped 60 billion photos from the internet — social media, news sites, anywhere your face appeared online. ICE just paid $9.2 million to search it.

Can You Opt Out?

Yes, but only in certain states. Clearview only honors opt-out requests from residents of states with biometric privacy laws:

How to Submit a Clearview AI Opt-Out Request

1. Go to clearview.ai/privacy-and-requests
2. Select your state of residence
3. Select "Delete/Opt-Out" AND "Opt-Out of Profiling"
4. Enter your email address
5. Upload a clear photo of your face (yes, really — they need it to find you in their database)
6. Complete the CAPTCHA and submit
7. Check your email and click the confirmation link

Processing time: A few days to several weeks, depending on request volume.

The Catch

Even if you opt out:

• Clearview continuously scrapes new photos. If your face appears online again, it may be re-added.
• Opting out of "profiling" doesn't delete your data — it just stops AI training on it.
• You need to explicitly request deletion, not just opt-out.
• There's no way to verify they actually deleted your data.

Alternative: Email [email protected] directly with a written deletion request.

2. Flock Safety: License Plate Records

Flock Safety scans 20 billion vehicles per month across 5,000+ communities. Your plate is being logged whenever you drive past their cameras.

Can You Get Your Data?

Yes — thanks to recent court rulings.

In November 2025, a Washington State court ruled that Flock camera data is public record and must be released under public records requests. A Virginia court reached a similar conclusion in April 2025.

How to Request Your License Plate Data

You can't request data directly from Flock Safety — they claim the data belongs to the agencies that operate the cameras. But you can submit public records requests to those agencies.

1. Identify which agencies in your area use Flock cameras. Check local news reports, city council meeting minutes, or the ALPR Watch database.
2. Submit a public records request to each agency. Request:
   • All records associated with your license plate number
   • Dates, times, and locations of all captures
   • Any "hot list" alerts associated with your plate
   • Records of any searches run on your plate
3. Cite the relevant public records law:
   • Washington: Public Records Act (RCW 42.56)
   • Virginia: Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code 2.2-3700)
   • California: California Public Records Act (Gov. Code 6250)
   • Other states: Use your state's equivalent public records law

Sample Public Records Request

Subject: Public Records Request - License Plate Reader Data

Dear Records Custodian,

Pursuant to [YOUR STATE'S PUBLIC RECORDS LAW], I am requesting
copies of the following records:

1. All data captured by Flock Safety or other automated license
   plate reader (ALPR) systems associated with license plate
   number [YOUR PLATE NUMBER].

2. All dates, times, geographic coordinates, and camera locations
   where my vehicle was captured.

3. Any "hot list" or alert records associated with my plate.

4. All audit logs showing who accessed records related to my plate.

5. The retention period for ALPR data under your agency's policy.

Please provide these records in electronic format. If any fees
are required, please notify me before processing.

Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR CONTACT INFO]

What to Expect

• Response time: 5-30 days depending on state law
• Fees: Some agencies charge for search/copying time
• Pushback: Some agencies may claim exemptions — cite the Washington and Virginia rulings
• Data retention: Flock cameras auto-delete after 30 days, so act fast

Can You Opt Out?

No. There's no opt-out mechanism for license plate readers. If you drive on public roads with plates, you're in the system. The only "opt-out" is not driving — or not having plates, which creates other legal problems.

3. ICE Databases: Your Immigration File

Palantir's ImmigrationOS pulls data from the IRS, Social Security, passport databases, and license plate readers to build profiles for deportation targeting.

Can You Access Your Records?

Yes, through FOIA and Privacy Act requests.

You have the right to request your own immigration records. This includes:

• A-File (Alien File): Your complete immigration history — every interaction with USCIS, ICE, and CBP
• Enforcement records: Any ICE investigation, detention, or removal records
• Travel records: Entry/exit history, border crossing data
• Biometric data: Fingerprints, photos collected at ports of entry

How to Request Your ICE Records

Option 1: USCIS FOIA Request (for A-File)

1. Go to USCIS FOIA portal
2. Create an account or sign in
3. Select "First Party Request" (records about yourself)
4. Provide:
   • Full legal name (all names used)
   • Date of birth
   • Country of birth
   • A-Number (if known)
   • Current residential address (required as of 2025)
5. Upload proof of identity (passport, driver's license)
6. Submit request

Option 2: Direct ICE FOIA Request

1. Go to ICE FOIA portal
2. Create a SecureRelease account
3. Submit request specifying:
   • Enforcement records
   • Investigation records
   • Detention records
   • Surveillance or monitoring records

Option 3: CBP Records Request

1. Go to CBP FOIA portal
2. Request border crossing records, biometric collection records

Processing Time

Expect several months. ICE is currently experiencing high FOIA request volume. You'll receive a tracking number (format: 2025-ICFO-XXXXX) to check status.

Expedited Processing

You can request expedited processing if:

• You face an imminent threat to life or safety (pending deportation to dangerous country)
• You need records to prevent due process violations (ongoing immigration case)

What You'll Get Back

Your response may include:

• Complete immigration history
• Enforcement encounter records
• Internal notes and memos
• Biometric collection records

What will likely be redacted:

• Law enforcement techniques and procedures
• Confidential informant information
• Ongoing investigation details
• Third-party personal information

4. Terrorist Watchlist / No Fly List

Getting flagged at airports? Extra screening every time? You might have a watchlist issue.

Can You Check If You're on a Watchlist?

Sort of. The government won't confirm or deny watchlist status, but you can file for redress if you're experiencing problems.

DHS TRIP: Traveler Redress Inquiry Program

1. Go to dhs.gov/dhs-trip
2. Click "Submit an Inquiry"
3. Fill out the Traveler Inquiry Form:
   • Full name (all variations)
   • Date of birth
   • Gender
   • Citizenship
   • Description of travel problems experienced
4. Submit — you'll receive a Redress Control Number
5. Use this number when booking future travel

What DHS TRIP Actually Does

• Reviews your case against watchlist records
• Corrects misidentification issues (you share a name with someone on the list)
• Provides a Redress Control Number that helps flag you as "reviewed"

What DHS TRIP Can't Do

• Tell you if you're on a watchlist
• Tell you why you're on a watchlist
• Remove you from a watchlist (they can only make corrections)
• Stop secondary screening if there's a legitimate security concern

Reality Check

According to DHS, 98% of people who file DHS TRIP complaints are NOT on the terrorist watchlist. Most issues are caused by name similarities. The Redress Control Number helps systems distinguish you from similarly-named individuals.

5. Ring / Neighbor Cameras

Ring's "Familiar Faces" feature lets your neighbors build facial recognition databases of everyone who approaches their door — including you.

Can You Check If You're in a Neighbor's Ring Database?

No. Ring doesn't provide any mechanism for non-users to check if their face has been captured or labeled by someone else's camera.

What You Can Do

If you live in Illinois, Texas, or Portland, Oregon:

• Ring's Familiar Faces feature is disabled in these jurisdictions
• If someone activates it anyway, you may have legal recourse

Everywhere else:

• Support biometric privacy legislation in your state
• Be aware that your face may be in multiple private databases
• Consider facial recognition countermeasures (sunglasses, hats, strategic hair)

If you own a Ring:

• Disable Familiar Faces (Account → Account Settings → Privacy Settings)
• Don't contribute to the problem

6. Government Biometric Databases

The government collects biometric data through multiple channels: border crossings, visa applications, arrests, employment verification (some industries), and increasingly, driver's licenses.

How to Request Your Biometric Records

For each agency that might have your data, submit a Privacy Act request:

FBI (fingerprints, criminal records)

• Submit Identity History Summary Request
• FBI Identity History Checks

DHS/CBP (border biometrics)

• Submit Privacy Act request to CBP
• Request records from IDENT/HART biometric system
• CBP Records Request

State DMV (facial recognition)

• Contact your state DMV directly
• Request records under state public records law
• Ask specifically about facial recognition enrollment

USCIS (immigration biometrics)

• Submit FOIA request through USCIS portal
• Request biometric collection records from ASC appointments

What Biometric Data Can You Request?

• Fingerprint records
• Facial photographs
• Iris scans (if collected)
• Biometric encounter history
• Which agencies accessed your biometric data

Can You Delete Government Biometric Data?

Generally, no. Government agencies retain biometric data under statutory authority. Unlike private companies, they're not subject to deletion requests in most cases.

Exceptions:

• Expunged criminal records (fingerprints may be deleted)
• Wrongful collection (if they collected without authority)
• Data maintained past retention period

Your Rights by State

Your ability to access and delete data depends heavily on where you live:

Your Action Plan

This Week (2-3 hours)

1. Submit Clearview AI opt-out — if you're in a covered state
2. Submit DHS TRIP inquiry — if you've had travel screening issues
3. Disable Ring Familiar Faces — if you own a Ring device

This Month (3-5 hours)

1. Identify Flock Safety cameras in your area
2. Submit public records requests for your license plate data
3. Submit USCIS FOIA request for your immigration file (if applicable)
4. Submit FBI Identity History request to check fingerprint records

Ongoing

1. Monitor responses (FOIA requests can take months)
2. Appeal denials (agencies often over-redact)
3. Re-submit Clearview opt-out annually (they may re-scrape your photos)
4. Support biometric privacy legislation in your state

The Bottom Line

You're in these databases. All of them, probably. The question isn't whether you're being tracked — it's whether you can do anything about it.

Clearview AI lets you opt out in some states. Flock Safety data is now public record in some jurisdictions. ICE has to respond to FOIA requests. DHS TRIP can help with watchlist misidentification.

But there's no "delete my face from government databases" button. No way to stop license plate readers from logging you. No mechanism to prevent your neighbor's Ring from capturing your face.

What you can do: know what they have, challenge inaccuracies, minimize future collection, and support legislation that gives you actual rights.

The surveillance infrastructure is built. The only question is whether we're going to do anything about it.

References

1. Clearview AI — Privacy & Requests Portal
2. DeleteMe — Clearview AI Opt-Out Guide
3. ICE — Freedom of Information Act Portal
4. USCIS — Request Records Through FOIA or Privacy Act
5. DHS — Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP)
6. EFF — Washington Court Rules Flock Data Are Public Records (November 2025)
7. 404 Media — Judge Rules Flock Images Are Public Records
8. ILRC — Step-by-Step Guide to FOIA Requests with DHS
9. AALDEF — Step-by-Step ICE FOIA Request Guide
10. ALPR Watch — License Plate Reader Database

Related

• ICE Bought 60 Billion Stolen Faces — The database this guide helps you opt out of
• Flock Safety: 20 Billion Scans a Month — License plate surveillance you can now request
• ICE's Deportation Operating System — What happens with the data they collect
• Ring Now Scans Faces at Your Door — The private surveillance you can't opt out of
• Opt Out of 85+ Data Brokers — Comprehensive data broker removal guide
• Know Your Rights in ICE Encounters