The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has been utilizing facial recognition technology on a private camera network without public disclosure or adherence to local regulations, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Key Points
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Access to Technology: The NOPD has had access to Clearview AI’s facial recognition software since at least 2020 but only began using it in late 2022.
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Local Ordinance: A city ordinance mandates that police departments can use such technology only when searching for specific suspects involved in violent crimes.
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Reporting Requirements: Under this ordinance, police are required to provide detailed information about each scan within three days of completion. However, records indicate that officers did not disclose their use of the technology in paperwork related to multiple arrests.
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Lack of Transparency: These cases were also omitted from mandatory city council reports, violating the ordinance passed last year.
Expert Opinion
Nathan Freed Wessler, an ACLU deputy director, expressed concern, stating, "This is the facial recognition technology nightmare scenario we’ve been worried about." He emphasized that it essentially grants law enforcement "unlimited power over all sorts of innocent people going about their daily business."
Implications
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Data Usage: The NOPD’s use of Clearview AI involves scanning millions of images daily from a vast database of publicly available photos and videos.
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Concerns: This lack of transparency raises significant concerns regarding potential misuse and abuse of power by law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
This incident underscores the ongoing debates surrounding surveillance technologies and their regulation in cities across America.
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