Milwaukee Police Pursue Deal to Acquire Unrestricted Facial Recognition Software in Exchange for Existing Mugshots Database
The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is considering a deal with private company Biometrica that would see the trade of approximately 2.5 million mugshots for free access to facial recognition software. This proposal has raised alarm bells due to concerns about the technology's inaccuracies, particularly in identifying dark-skinned individuals, especially women and non-binary people.
The deal, if finalised, would allow the MPD to use Biometrica's facial recognition software without having to pay for licences. The MPD has not yet entered into any contract regarding this deal.
Wisconsin Law and Facial Recognition Technology
Wisconsin Act 12 (2023) allows the MPD to purchase facial recognition technology licences without needing approval from other bodies, facilitating their ability to engage in deals such as this one. However, the use of mugshots for facial recognition training is a complex and evolving issue, with significant local opposition based on civil rights concerns.
The Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission has formally opposed the deployment of facial recognition technology (FRT) by the MPD, citing concerns about disproportionate impacts and inaccuracies, especially affecting protected classes with potential civil rights violations. There is limited public transparency or positive outcome data on FRT in peer cities, fueling opposition and calls for heightened oversight and public discussion.
Ethical and Civil Rights Implications
Despite the ability to acquire and use mugshots for FRT under Wisconsin law, there are ongoing concerns about the ethical and civil rights implications. The local ACLU has called for a two-year pause on any new surveillance technology in Milwaukee. Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel at EPIC, has expressed concern that the deal would exacerbate historical racial inequalities in the criminal justice system.
Forbes has reported that biometric breaches can expose people to identity theft or be used to bypass other security systems. PimEyes has stolen pictures of dead people for its facial recognition algorithm, and Clearview AI, another company, has scraped millions of photos from social media for its facial recognition database.
Balancing Privacy and Public Safety
The MPD plans to craft a policy to ensure no one is arrested solely off facial recognition matches, but there's nothing to keep them accountable. The proposed agreement between the MPD and Biometrica mentions nothing about informing individuals, receiving their consent, or allowing them to opt out. The MPD has not yet developed regulations for existing surveillance technology.
The proposed deal between the MPD and Biometrica is a contentious issue, with concerns about the accuracy and potential biases of facial recognition technology, as well as the ethical and civil rights implications of using mugshots for training. As the debate continues, it is crucial that policies are put in place to ensure privacy, accountability, and transparency in the use of this technology.
[1] Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. (2023). Milwaukee Police Consider Facial Recognition Deal with Biometrica.
[2] Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (2023). Milwaukee Police Consider Trading Mugshots for Facial Recognition Software.
[3] EPIC. (2023). EPIC Submits Comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology on Face Recognition Vendor Test.
[4] American Civil Liberties Union. (2023). Facial Recognition Technology.
- The escalating debate surrounding the deal between the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and Biometrica highlights concerns about the future of technology and artificial-intelligence in general-news, particularly within the realm of crime-and-justice.
- Gizmodo reports that biometric breaches could potentially expose individuals to identity theft or facilitate bypassing other security systems, raising questions about the ethical implications of such technology.
- The MPD's proposition to use Biometrica's facial recognition software with mugshots for training could exacerbate historical racial inequalities in the criminal justice system, according to Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel at EPIC.
- The Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission and local ACLU have called for a halt on new surveillance technology, such as facial recognition, citing civil rights concerns and the need for transparency and accountability in tech.
