A recent report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has raised concerns about the disproportionate harm caused by facial recognition technology, particularly towards people of color and women in law enforcement investigations, airport security, and public housing surveillance. The report highlights the lack of federal oversight in the use of facial recognition technology, which has been deployed by at least 18 federal agencies and funded by the Justice Department since 2007.
The commission found that facial recognition technology poses significant risks to civil rights, leading to wrongful arrests, unwarranted surveillance, and discrimination. Tests have shown that false matches are more likely for certain groups, including older adults, women, and people of color. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service have utilized facial recognition tools for investigations, while the Department of Homeland Security has deployed the technology in border control and immigration probes.
Public housing agencies have also been using facial recognition technology, leading to evictions over minor violations based on surveillance footage. The report raises concerns about potential Title VI violations due to the disproportionate impact on women and people of color in public housing.
Civil rights advocates hope that the report will spur policy changes and lead to a moratorium on biased facial recognition technology. The U.S. criminal justice system has a history of targeting marginalized communities, and facial recognition tools are seen as exacerbating this issue. The report calls for a testing protocol to ensure the fairness and accuracy of facial recognition software, as well as legal redress mechanisms for those harmed by its use. Members of the Commission on Civil Rights hope that the report will inform lawmakers and lead to improved regulation of facial recognition technology.
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