Download the resource: Testimony of Barry Friedman to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security regarding Facial Recognition Technology (.PDF) — Download the resource: *Testimony of Barry Friedman to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security regarding Facial Recognition Technology* (.PDF)

Testimony of Barry Friedman To the U.S. House of Representatives regarding facial recognition

“Facial Recognition Technology: Examining Its Use by Law Enforcement,” July 13, 2021

Overview

Policing Project Faculty Director Barry Friedman testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security regarding law enforcement’s use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). Friedman spoke about the urgent need for comprehensive, nuanced regulation of FRT and highlighted key considerations that should be included in any regulatory approach, including steps Congress can take right now to rein in the risks posed by law enforcement’s ongoing use of this technology.

Key TakeAways

1). Facial recognition technology, especially in the hands of law enforcement, is an extremely powerful tool; and it can be powerful for good and for bad.

2). The present lawless status quo around law enforcement’s use of FRT is unacceptable: there is an urgent need for comprehensive, nuanced regulation that would allow obtaining the benefits of this technology for public safety while eliminating the harms, in particular harms to marginalized communities—and especially Black communities—which bear the brunt of FRT harms at present.

3). The testimony highlights key considerations that should be included in any regulatory approach to FRT, including steps Congress can take right now to rein in the risks posed by law enforcement’s ongoing use of this technology.