Law Enforcement Tech
A hollow victory in fight to bring transparency to cops’ use of facial recognition technology
Police used facial recognition software to go ‘window-shopping for a suspect,’ says a New Jersey man arrested after facial recognition software found his image matched the suspect in video footage of a robbery.
What cities should know about ShotSpotter technology
COMMENTARY | ShotSpotter may have benefits for improved gun shot detection and response, one expert says, but it offers little benefit for enforcement and did not reduce gunshot victimization.
AI in law enforcement is risky, but holds promise
Leaders should not be reluctant to use AI in controversial applications, even if they risk blowback, one city’s CIO advises.
Police departments are turning to AI to sift through millions of hours of unreviewed body-cam footage
Body camera video equivalent to 25 million copies of “Barbie” is collected but rarely reviewed. Some cities are looking to new technology to examine this stockpile of footage to identify problematic officers and patterns of behavior.
How police have undermined the promise of body cameras
Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars have been spent on what was sold as a revolution in transparency and accountability. Instead, police departments routinely refuse to release footage—even when officers kill.
Using opioid settlement cash for police gear like squad cars and scanners sparks debate
As state and local governments figure out how to spend more than $50 billion from opioid settlement cash, officials must balance how to allocate funds for competing interests such as drug addiction treatment and enhanced police tech.
Robot police dogs are on patrol, but who’s holding the leash?
Numerous cities have acquired dog-like robots for policing. Researchers say the lack of transparency is worrying.
3 Strategies for Advancing Facial Recognition Technology in Policing
As more agencies launch FRT programs, standard best practices should be discussed regularly to ensure this technology protects citizen’s privacy and civil liberties, according to a recent report.
Cracking Cold Cases: Police Turn to Podcasts to Track Down Killers
Law enforcement officials say that department-sponsored podcasts—free, easy to download and available on demand—are perfect for disseminating information. (America’s true-crime obsession doesn’t hurt.)
Baltimore Latest City to Consider Banning Facial Recognition Technology
The Maryland city joins several other localities that have banned or are assessing the controversial technology, or are limiting its scope and use.
Programmers, Lawmakers Want A.I. to Eliminate Bias, Not Promote It
Artificial intelligence can worsen systemic racism.
Featured eBooks
Report: What City Officials Need to Know About Facial Recognition Technology
How local governments are deploying facial recognition systems, as well as the technology's benefits and challenges, are addressed in a report from the National League of Cities.
The Mayor on a Mission to Bring a RoboCop Statue to His City
Mike Wiza, mayor of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, wants to score an 11-foot-tall replica of the cyborg police officer from the 1980s action film. But if that effort fails, the city might see about making its own—possibly bigger—version.
Police Department Tries Out Virtual Reality De-Escalation Training
The department in Schenectady, New York, is working with a local game development company on the program.
Police Departments Experiment With 70-Pound Robot Dog
Departments have deployed the cyber K-9s in hostage situations and as part of the covid response. Proponents say the robots can help keep officers out of harm's way, while critics worry how they could be used without clear policy guidelines in place.
Can Better Data Fix America’s Policing Crisis?
COMMENTARY | As society debates law enforcement reform, far better data is necessary to provide a road map for needed changes.
City Ban on Business Use of Facial Recognition Tech Said to Be a First
Elected leaders in Portland, Oregon approved the measure this week.
Facial Recognition Algorithms Struggle to Detect Faces Under Masks, NIST Study Finds
A new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology found facial recognition algorithms developed pre-pandemic struggle to identify masked faces.
Unchecked Power? How Law Enforcement Could Leverage Facial Recognition During Protests
COMMENTARY | The lack of regulation around facial recognition usage allows law enforcement to use the technology in ways that could undermine civil rights and liberties.
One City Rejected a Policing Algorithm. Could It Be Used For Other Purposes?
In Pittsburgh, an algorithm that deployed law enforcement officers to predicted crime “hot spots” might be repurposed to send social services to areas in need instead.
Did That Drone Just Tell Us to Stay 6 Feet Apart?
Police have deployed drones to check if residents are complying with social distancing requirements. One department even briefly considered using them to scan crowds for fevers.
