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Police reform must also include the regulation of facial recognition technologies

Theo

A mobile police facial recognition device outside a shopping mall in London in 2020. London police began using facial recognition surveillance cameras mounted on a police van in 2020 to automatically search for wanted people. The controversial technology has repeatedly raised concerns about increased surveillance and invasion of privacy.Kelvin Chan/Associated Press

In the wake of the Karen Read trial, the Massachusetts State Police have come under renewed scrutiny, with residents and elected officials raising new concerns about corruption that goes well beyond the Read case (“After Karen Read trial, state police face ‘additional scrutiny,’” Metro, July 2).

One issue that should be at the forefront of any potential police reforms is the use of facial recognition technology in police investigations. Without proper regulation, this technology can be abused and misused, leading to wrongful arrests. Given their unique access to this technology under our current laws, anyone concerned about State Police misconduct should also be concerned about the misuse of facial recognition technology. State Police use facial recognition, but the details of how they use it are not publicly disclosed beyond a brief annual report because that information is exempt from public records law under current law.

With less than four weeks left in this legislative session, lawmakers have the opportunity to pass new measures to protect the public. Lawmakers are considering balanced recommendations — including standardizing police use of this technology and protecting the integrity of criminal convictions — that are supported by the Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the New England NAACP and many others.

Kade Crockford

Boston

The author is program director of Technology for Liberty at the ACLU of Massachusetts.

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