Detroit Police Department Adopts New Rules for Facial Recognition Technology After Wrongful Arrest
In January 2020, Robert Williams found himself spending 30 hours in a Detroit jail due to a faulty facial recognition match that suggested he was a criminal. The match was wrong, and Mr. Williams took legal action, eventually leading to a settlement with the Detroit Police Department.
As part of the settlement, Mr. Williams secured a commitment from the Detroit Police Department to adopt new rules for the use of facial recognition technology. These rules, deemed by the American Civil Liberties Union as the new national standard, aim to prevent wrongful arrests like the one Mr. Williams experienced.
“We hope that it moves the needle in the right direction,” Mr. Williams stated.
Mr. Williams was not the only victim of faulty facial recognition technology in Detroit. At least two other individuals were wrongfully arrested, including a pregnant woman charged with carjacking. These incidents raised concerns about the accuracy and potential biases of facial recognition technology.
The new rules adopted by the Detroit Police Department include restrictions on showing images of individuals identified through facial recognition to eyewitnesses in photo lineups without additional corroborating evidence. The department also implemented changes to how photo lineups are conducted to ensure fairness and accuracy.
While law enforcement agencies across the country use facial recognition technology to solve crimes, some cities and states have temporarily banned its use due to privacy and racial bias concerns. Detroit now stands as a national leader in implementing safeguards for the use of this technology.
The Detroit Police Department acknowledges that human error played a role in the wrongful arrests and believes that the new policies will prevent future misidentifications. The department remains optimistic about the crime-solving potential of facial recognition technology, which they now use only in cases of serious crimes.
Experts and advocates have praised Detroit’s new rules as a step in the right direction. However, some remain skeptical about the technology’s effectiveness and call for further scrutiny and oversight.
As Detroit continues to navigate the use of facial recognition technology, the case of Robert Williams serves as a cautionary tale and a catalyst for change in how law enforcement agencies approach this powerful but potentially flawed tool.
