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Dallas Police Department officials announced plans to implement facial recognition technology in their investigative processes to apprehend individuals suspected of criminal activities.
During a meeting with councilmembers on Monday, Police Chief Eddie Garcia disclosed that they had been observing the efficacy of such programs in other departments for several years before deciding to proceed. The department intends to utilize ClearView AI, a somewhat controversial facial recognition program. ClearView AI scours the internet, including social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, to amass billions of images. Employing artificial intelligence, it identifies individuals sought by law enforcement.
Chief Garcia informed the committee that they anticipate rolling out the program within six months and have already employed it in specific cases. He cited an instance where the technology aided investigators in locating a suspected child pornographer. The individual was identified when he appeared in the background of a photo taken at a trade show.
Similar applications of ClearView AI have been observed elsewhere, such as in South Florida, where law enforcement utilized the program to apprehend a 25-year-old woman who was captured on camera hurling rocks at police during a violent protest in 2020.
Dallas Police Chief Garcia expressed confidence that the implementation of facial recognition technology would significantly impact their operations. The department has exercised caution, observing the experiences and challenges faced by other jurisdictions with similar technologies. They plan to establish a robust policy, ensuring that the program is not misused for unfounded surveillance purposes. Instead, investigators will be required to target specific suspects accused of particular crimes, with their actions subject to review by supervisors in the Real Time Crime Center.
Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn expressed support for the initiative from the council, emphasizing the importance of balancing efficiency with privacy concerns. Major Stephen Williams highlighted the potential benefits of the technology in identifying suspects in crowded environments like sporting events and concerts, where numerous photos are typically taken and shared by the public.
Funding for the program will be sourced from grant money rather than the city budget, similar to arrangements seen in other cities like Miami, which contracted with ClearView AI for $12,000 in 2020.