Facial recognition technology ’reinforces discriminatory policing’ in New York

New Yorkers living in areas at greater risk of stop-and-search by police are also more exposed to invasive facial recognition technology, according to a new analysis involving UCL researchers and led by Amnesty International. In the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, the research also showed that the higher the proportion of non-white residents, the higher the concentration of facial recognition compatible CCTV cameras. The findings are based on crowdsourced data obtained by thousands of digital volunteers as part of the Decode Surveillance NYC project, which mapped more than 25,500 CCTV cameras across New York City. Dr Julien Cornebise (Honorary Associate Professor at UCL Computer Science), who helped design and implement the crowdsourcing project, said: "It's always a privilege to work with Amnesty International, supporting their incredible expertise of social change with our own expertise of data and algorithms. A project like this is truly unique. It joins human rights experts, a literal crowd of volunteers from all over the world, and our own academic rigour of quantitative analysis and algorithms, all united to shape the impact of technology on society."  The research marks the latest phase of Amnesty International's Ban The Scan campaign, following investigations into surveillance in New York and Hyderabad in India last year. Amnesty International is calling for a total ban on the use, development, production, sales, and export of facial recognition technology for mass surveillance purposes by both states and the private sector.