BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Catching criminals one face at a time. The FBI is using a new program with facial recognition to put lawbreakers behind bars.

Tracey Leong explains.

The Next Generation Identification System has been several years in the making with new updates helping to expedite criminal investigations.

After capturing a robbery suspect on surveillance footage, the FBI can use modern technology to zero in on a criminal.

“With facial recognition software, we are able to quickly sift through literally millions of photographs nationwide very quickly,” said FBI Special Agent Patrick Dugan.

With a database of 400 million photographs of known individuals, including drivers’ license, passport or arrest photos, the FBI is able to track down suspects even faster.

“When we are able to narrow it down from essentially a pool of everybody to a smaller, maybe in single digits or a few more than 10, that gives the investigator a place to start,” Dugan said.

Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups like the ACLU have concerns with this technology but the FBI understands there is room for error. The Next Generation Identification System relies on a wide range of biometrics—and not just facial recognition.

“Fingerprints, DNA, witness ID or any number of other means or methods to further narrow it down and further positively identify the individual,” Dugan said.

Whether it’s a bank robbery case, abduction or terrorism matter, facial recognition is just one of many tools law enforcement relies on to expand their abilities to get criminals off the street.

One misconception the FBI wants to clear up: they do not collect photos from your social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. They only use official images like driver’s license photos or mugshots.

The Next Generation Identification System was developed by Maryland-based company Lockheed Martin.