And how exactly am I supposed to memorize this image so that I may rapidly authenticate the bearer against all possible simulations if I can't see it?
There's no need for that. The fact that it's illegal for anyone but the FBI to use it as an identifier is the authentication. You need not look too closely at the image. :/
Edit: I assume from the downvotes that there are people who actually believe this is a good idea. Could someone who believes that please defend the idea so we can have a discussion about it? :)
Any downvotes were probably from people taking you seriously. Sarcasm doesn't translate well into text. At least, I'm assuming that you meant to be sarcastic, given your edit.
Since it's no longer downvoted, I think you're right.
I was being sarcastic, and didn't realize I hadn't indicated it well enough until your comment. Thanks for pointing it out; I'll try to be more explicit in the future. :)
There is the same situation with the $100 bill. We all have to be able to identify a legit one but I would guess the US treasury would similarly have a problem with Wikipedia posting a "camera ready" image if a $100 bill.
The $100 bill image on Wikipedia is 659px X 289px and is marked "specimen." The FBI logo is 2000x2000
All Americans are allowed to possess $100 bills in their full detail. There are all kinds of restrictions on what we can do with them, but we can possess them and look at them any time we like.
Resolution isn't much of an issue either. Absent watermarks, there are lots of nice upsampling algorithms.
As for the Treasury having a problem with it, if you make your file/printed copy one-sided and either <.75x or >1.5x in scale (and delete the files you used to create it when done), they don't care.
• The FBI needs to unambiguously identify itself to citizens.
• It will do this by having a special image that only it is allowed to possess, to be shown to said citizens.
• Citizens will recognize this as the "image that can only be possessed by the FBI" and authenticate the bearer as FBI.
• Citizens may not possess or view any version of said image sufficiently detailed to be identified as the actual image.
And how exactly am I supposed to memorize this image so that I may rapidly authenticate the bearer against all possible simulations if I can't see it?