The government does not need any help from the public to identify photos, especially very clear photos. They already have the software to do it almost instantly.
The purpose of the turn them in campaign is to create a culture of snitches who obey the government over members of their own family.
This really shouldn't surprise anyone, as any and all law enforcement agencies worldwide has used snitches for a long ass time. The only thing could be this "wide ranging probe is unprecedented in FBI and Justice Department history". Unless, of course, You've lived in the former soviet states or during nazi regime. Hell, even China does it on a much bigger scale.