MPD proposes using facial recognition in exchange for millions of booking data

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A lot of questions and concerns Wednesday night, June18, from Milwaukee residents over a proposal to bring facial recognition technology into the Milwaukee Police Department.

It was a heated debate from all sides. MPD says facial recognition is a game changer in catching criminals, while local organizations and residents say it violates their rights and worry about racial discrimination.

"Facial recognition, especially as it relates to darker complexions, can cause problems," said Jacqueline Cook, a commissioner with the Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission. "My daughter can unlock my iPhone."

Dozens of people showed up holding signs and sharing their concerns against MPD's proposal to use facial recognition.

MPD says it won't cost taxpayers a dime. Instead, the district will have to provide all of their booking data to Biometrica, the company behind the technology. This is a cost some at the meeting said was too high.

"This is not free," said Ron Jansen, a Milwaukee resident. "The cost is 2.5 million mug shots of residents, non-residents, whatever and anyone who has been through the system in Milwaukee. 2.5 million human beings, maybe half of which or more were never convicted of a crime."

MPD says facial recognition technology allows them to get ahead on investigations, providing them with leads and potential suspects for violent crimes.

"If there is a good image captured of that individual's face, you enter it into a database of our own arrest photos and it comes back with potential matches," said Heather Huff, the Chief of Staff with MPD. "That isn’t enough to question somebody, arrest somebody."

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission board expressed their concerns over the technology's lack of regulation and potential areas for misuse.

"Accessing the tech by turning over a huge photo array of Milwaukeean's to a tech company is a wild choice and one that will compromise the progress that has been made, in fact to build community police trust," said Bree Spencer a commissioner with the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission."

The main concern from many is the technologies potential for racial discrimination.

"When using facial recognition technology, black and asian faces were up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified then white faces," said Dr. Emily Sterk with the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.

This is just the beginning of this discussion between MPD and the community. While there is no set timeline right now, the committee says they are planning to arrange more community hearing meetings to get feedback since its gained strong attention and emotions from many.