As facial recognition technology gains traction among law enforcement agencies, it is sparking both interest and controversy. The Milwaukee Police Department is among those considering its wider application, but concerns are being raised about its implications.
Nadiyah Johnson, the CEO of Jet Constellations and its social impact branch, the Milky Way Tech Hub, is one vocal critic. She shared her reservations on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” pointing out the high rate of false positives for groups underrepresented in the technology’s databases, including women, young people, and people of color.
Johnson emphasized, “The issue is not about functionality as much as the bias risks, due process and public trust. With technologies like this, it erodes public trust.” She further highlighted the potential for misuse by law enforcement and called for transparency and strict guidelines on its use.
During a meeting with the city’s Fire and Police Commission, Johnson joined over two dozen other community members in expressing these concerns. In response, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, who took over the department in 2021, imposed a temporary halt on the use of facial recognition technology until a formal policy is developed. The technology had been utilized in a limited capacity before his tenure, mainly to gather leads on violent felonies.
A department spokesperson acknowledged the value of public trust, stating, “Despite our belief that this is useful technology to assist in generating leads for apprehending violent criminals, we recognize that the public trust is far more valuable.” They assured the public that the department would not use facial recognition until a comprehensive policy is in place, developed in collaboration with the community and local government.
However, the Milwaukee Police Association, representing the city’s police officers, voiced their disappointment with the moratorium. They stressed the importance of having “thoughtful policy development, transparency, and community input,” but argued against removing essential tools without establishing proper oversight.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is exploring a similar path. At a recent community meeting, they announced plans to contract with Biometrica for facial recognition software, although a final agreement is yet to be reached.
Patrick Solar, a criminal justice professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and former Illinois police chief, discussed the balance necessary between leveraging such technologies and respecting individual privacy. He suggested developing policies that the public can review to ensure ethical use.
“We’re talking about the safety of all of the citizens in the Milwaukee area, versus the issue with how this software might be misused,” Solar remarked, emphasizing the importance of procedures to prevent misuse.
Understanding the Expansion of Facial Recognition Technology
Derek Riley, a computer science professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, notes the growing integration of facial recognition technology in policing. He expressed surprise at the limited use in Milwaukee, indicating that many larger police forces already implement the technology.
According to Riley, the technology has improved over time, learning from vast databases to make more accurate predictions. However, he warns that when deployed outside of controlled environments, the potential for errors and biases increases. “Under perfect conditions, these things operate in this way, but you put them out in the wild, and they can operate differently,” he explained.
Riley also noted the omnipresence of cameras in public spaces, which can capture facial data without individuals’ knowledge. While he does not believe the average person should fear misuse of their image, he advocates for transparency in regulating such technologies.
“You just have to go into this expecting your face and images are going to be out there,” Riley said. “It opens up all these questionable privacy things where we all have pause. I think that’s where, as a society, we’re still wrestling with this, and I think that’s OK. We just have to do it in the open as much as possible.”
