: This data is strictly controlled. Access is limited to authorized federal, state, and local law enforcement for generating "investigative leads" rather than positive identifications.
The phrase typically refers to one of two things: a legitimate search for forensic training datasets or, more frequently, a misconception about the accessibility of the FBI's massive, private biometric databases. 1. The Reality of the FBI's Facial Database Download FBI Faces zip
: While not an "FBI" database, the Chicago Face Database is a common resource for high-resolution, standardized face images often used in academic and psychological research. 3. Summary of Availability Accessibility Law Enforcement NGI (Next Generation Identification) Restricted (Police Only) Secure Database Research/Training NIST CFReDS / FERET Zip / Downloadable Academic Chicago Face Database Public (Request Required) Zip / Downloadable : This data is strictly controlled
: Managed by NIST, this is one of the most famous datasets for facial recognition research, containing thousands of images under controlled conditions. private biometric databases.
: Be cautious of unofficial sites claiming to offer an "FBI Face Database" download. These are often malware traps or phishing attempts designed to exploit curiosity about sensitive government data. Next Generation Identification (NGI) — LE - FBI.gov