A group of Democratic senators, including Sens. Raphael Warnock, Cory Booker, Laphonza Butler, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and others, have raised concerns about the Department of Justice (DOJ) using facial recognition technology. They signed and issued a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, highlighting the potential harm associated with this technology.
The senators pointed out that facial recognition and #biometric technologies have become widely used by police in recent years. However, they noted that these technologies can be unreliable and inaccurate, particularly when it comes to issues of race and ethnicity. They cited instances where incorrect facial recognition matches had led to wrongful arrests in the Black community.
Furthermore, the senators expressed their belief that the use of such technology could go against Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits intentional discrimination and discriminatory effects. They argued that Title VI restricts the ability of grant recipients funded by agencies like the DOJ to deploy technologies that may result in discrimination.
Several police departments, including Minneapolis, Boston, and San Francisco, have already banned their officers from using facial recognition software due to concerns about racial bias and wrongful accusations.
In the letter, the senators requested that the DOJ provide answers regarding facial recognition tech training and compliance with civil rights laws by the end of February 2024. They emphasized that errors in facial recognition technology could negatively impact the lives of American citizens, potentially leading to violations of federal civil rights laws.
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Link: AfroTech
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