The Milwaukee Police Department is currently in talks with Biometrica, a company that licenses facial recognition technology to third-party organizations to use for security. To make the system possible, Biometrica is requesting access to 2.5 million photos and facial scans. As biometric data such as facial recognition, fingerprints and DNA becomes increasingly incorporated into organizational workflows, questions are emerging about privacy and oversight.
Biometrica currently integrates its technology in airports, stadiums and university campuses where it helps monitor large crowds. While the company does not have direct access to biometric data, it does receive images from the locations where its products are used. Built-in guardrails, the company says, include prohibiting mass surveillance and limiting the technology to capturing only individuals’ faces.
Organizations including Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission have pushed back due to concerns on accuracy and bias that could arise from facial recognition technology, especially for women and people of color…