Law enforcement agencies across the country use facial recognition technology to generate leads in criminal cases.
Not surprisingly, most Americans approve of this use of technology. Surveys show that a majority of Americans (55%) support the use of facial recognition when considering the impact on public safety and security.
Three out of four Americans think government should avoid strict limits on the use of facial recognition.
Women, in particular are opposed, with only 14% supporting limits on facial recognition at the expense of public safety.
But in Massachusetts, the state government is considering a broad-brush ban on the use of any facial recognition technology by the police.
This would handcuff law enforcement from dealing with modern threats to public safety with modern tools.
Such a ban would undermine the ability of the police to keep up with new forms of crime.
(City of Irving, Texas police department serves and protects a diverse population of over 250,000 people. To enhance their capabilities to identify suspects and criminal offenders they use NEC NeoFace® facial recognition software, a 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program Winner. The robust software platform and algorithm provides reliable matching capability that is number one in the industry according to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). See how the agency has incorporated this important biometric identity matching tool into their police operations. Courtesy of NEC America and YouTube. Posted on Mar 1, 2018.)
While there are many valid questions over the use of facial recognition, and thoughtful regulation should be welcomed, the government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should not place a blunt and draconian ban on the use of any facial recognition technology by the police.
NetChoice, a trade association committed to the use of technology that fosters free enterprise and free expression, has launched a campaign to protect the use of new technologies, such as facial recognition, for law enforcement in Massachusetts.
The campaign is powered by new survey data to educate Massachusetts residents and political stakeholders about these technologies: how they enable law enforcement to maintain public safety, and that most of the public oppose an all-out ban on the use of this technology by law enforcement.
NetChoice is inviting stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the public to sign a Change.org petition urging Massachusetts state lawmakers to reject the proposed moratorium on facial recognition use for law enforcement.
“Every day facial recognition technologies help law enforcement to generate leads in cases, such as homicide, rape, armed robbery and other violent crime, as well as for non-enforcement reasons, including identifying elderly persons stricken with dementia, finding lost and missing children, identifying homeless persons with mental illness and identifying deceased persons,” explains Carl Szabo, Vice President and General Counsel of NetChoice.
“A moratorium on facial recognition technology not only goes against what Bay Staters want, it denies law enforcement tools needed to help keep our communities safe.”
Survey data from Pew also shows a majority of Americans (56 percent) trust law enforcement to use facial recognition technology responsibly.
A new poll by Savanta found Massachusetts residents are more supportive of allowing law enforcement to use facial recognition technology responsibly than the general population.
The Savanta survey of Massachusetts residents shows:
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66 percent of Bay Staters say we should not deny law enforcement from using new technologies, such as facial recognition, to fight and deter crime.
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64 percent of Bay Staters agreed facial recognition technology has the potential to make communities safer.
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46 percent of Bay Staters said government should not strictly limit the use of facial recognition technology if it comes at the expense of the public’s safety.
Szabo added, “The survey results confirm that despite calls by some for a moratorium in Massachusetts, people across the state value this technology to keep their communities safe and help law enforcement do their jobs more effectively.”
2019 Winners to be Announced at the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East – Register Today
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The highlight of the 2019 AST Homeland Security Awards Program will be the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East, November 20, 2019 in the Jacob Javits Exhibition Center, from 12:00pm – 2:30pm, featuring keynote address by Bill Bratton, former police commissioner of the NYPD, BPD, and former chief of LAPD.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!
Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!
ISC East is the Northeast’s largest security industry event and your ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon registration includes complimentary attendee access to the show.
Exhibiting and/or Attending the 2019 ISC East Conference?
Thank take advantage of this exclusive luncheon opportunity to take a break from the show – Invite your team, guests, clients and show visitors to a lovely and affordable plated meal event in the heart of New York City, for a fabulous networking opportunity!
To register, click on the banner below, or go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.
For ‘ASTORS’ Sponsorship and More Information, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
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