US states push back against use of facial recognition by police

A video surveillance camera on the ceiling above a subway platform in the Court Street station in the Brooklyn borough of New York. State lawmakers across the US are reconsidering the tradeoffs of facial recognition technology amid civil rights and racial bias concerns. — AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio: Law enforcement agencies across the US have used facial recognition technology to solve homicides and bust human traffickers, but concern about its accuracy and the growing pervasiveness of video surveillance is leading some state lawmakers to hit the pause button.

At least seven states and nearly two dozen cities have limited government use of the technology amid fears over civil rights violations, racial bias and invasion of privacy. Debate over additional bans, limits and reporting requirements has been underway in about 20 state capitals this legislative session, according to data compiled by the Electronic Privacy Information Center.