NYPD's facial recognition technology usage under scrutiny following call for investigation by Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society, New York City's largest public defender group, has requested an investigation into the New York Police Department's (NYPD) use of facial recognition technology. Diane Akerman, a staff attorney with Legal Aid's digital forensics unit, has expressed concerns about the NYPD's handling of the technology, stating that it cannot be trusted to use it in a way that does not harm New Yorkers.
According to the Legal Aid Society's letter, Jeanene Barrett, inspector general for the NYPD, is to be investigated regarding the NYPD's face recognition procedure monitoring. The investigation is requested to examine instances where the NYPD allegedly violated its own policies on the use of facial recognition technology.
Recent reports suggest that the NYPD has been using facial recognition technology for several years, despite concerns from advocates and experts about its reliability and potential for biased results and increased profiling. The NYPD has reportedly helped close multiple "high-profile, violent cases" using the technology, but concerns persist about its misuse.
The New York Times reported this week that the NYPD improperly used facial recognition technology to misidentify and later arrest a man for a crime he did not commit. This incident highlights the potential for harm caused by the NYPD's alleged misuse of the technology.
Diane Akerman emphasises that the NYPD is not only misusing the technology but is actively harming people now. She alleges that there have been other instances where the NYPD violated its own policies by using facial recognition matches sourced from outside of its own database to identify suspects. This could potentially lead to wrongful arrests, as reported by the Legal Aid Society.
The Department of Investigation has received and is reviewing Legal Aid's letter regarding the investigation into the NYPD's use of facial recognition technology. The City Council has also passed new standards on how police should use facial recognition technology due to growing concerns.
NYPD officials consider facial recognition technology as an "important tool" used in New York, along with departments across the U.S. However, the reliability and potential for biased results remain significant concerns, and the investigation requested by the Legal Aid Society could provide much-needed clarity on these issues.
The Innocence Project has cited six cases where Black people were misidentified and falsely accused of crimes by facial recognition technology. This underscores the need for rigorous oversight and regulation of the technology to prevent such occurrences.
Diane Akerman is uncertain about when Barrett's office will respond to the letter. The public will be keenly watching for updates on the investigation and any potential changes to the NYPD's use of facial recognition technology.
