Portland votes for first-ever US ban on corporate use of facial recognition

A surveillance camera in San Diego, California, United States, Aug 11. Portland, Oregon on Sept 9 voted in favour of the first-ever ban in the United States on private entities from using facial recognition technology in public places in the city. — Bloomberg

Portland on Sept 9 voted in favour of the first-ever ban in the United States on private entities, such as restaurants and retail stores, from using facial recognition technology in public places in the city.

Portland's city council also voted to ban local government bureaus from acquiring or using the controversial surveillance technology. Several US cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, have previously banned government use of facial recognition.