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Facial recognition policy plan revised by Detroit police

Posted at 4:02 PM, Aug 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-01 16:06:39-04

DETROIT (AP) — Police in Detroit have revised a plan to use existing facial recognition software only to help identify suspects following violent crimes or home invasions.

Using the technology to scan faces in real time during credible terrorism threats has been scrapped from the initial plan. The revised policy could go before a civilian police oversight board this month.

The facial recognition software produces possible matches to still images from social media, criminal mugshots and driver's license photos. Analysts in the Detroit police Real Time Crime Center then examine the possible matches.

The technology has its critics with some saying it's racially biased and threatens privacy.

San Francisco, Oakland and Somerville, Massachusetts, already have banned the use of facial recognition technology by municipal agencies.
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