The Brief
- Effective immediately, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman has banned all Milwaukee Police Department members from using or acquiring facial recognition technology (FRT).
- The MPD stated that while the technology is useful for leads, maintaining public trust is more valuable than its investigative benefits.
- The Milwaukee Police Association expressed “deep concern,” arguing that removing such tools—alongside new vehicle pursuit restrictions—limits officer effectiveness and endangers the public.
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department announced on Friday, Feb. 6, that it will voluntarily issue a ban on the use of any and all facial recognition technology (FRT) use for the department.
The move comes after a public hearing before the Fire and Police Commission on Thursday evening, Feb. 5, and a lot of push back from people opposed to the tech.
The disappointment now is coming from the union.
This all stems from a proposal pitched by the company Biometrica in spring 2025: 2.5 million mug shots in exchange for new facial recognition technology.
Thursday FPC meeting
What we know:…