News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Another lawmaker introduces legislation to limit the use of facial recognition technology

Mr Pauly D

Another state lawmaker has introduced legislation to limit the use of facial recognition technology.

This time, a lawmaker is pursuing a five year moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology - instead of an outright ban, like Republican Senator Peter Lucido sought back in May.

Democratic Representative Isaac Robinson, D-Hamtramck, said he thinks the public and legislators need time to understand exactly how the technology is being used.

“Many of my colleagues and many members of the general public really don’t understand the issue,” Robinson said. “So what we’re offering here is a pause, a temporary stop so we can have some serious discussion about how far we want this technology to be used.”

Robinson is particularly concerned about the use of the technology in his district, which partially covers Detroit. Detroit Police have been using facial recognition technology alongside a network of surveillance cameras across the city.

“Where is the limits?” Robinson asked. “The government cannot just do what they want. The City of Detroit implemented a policy without approval of the local police commission, which is a civil oversight board in Detroit, or the city council.”

The legislation would also impact the facial recognition system used by the Michigan State Police.

The Michigan State Police have previously said there are strict policies guiding the use of the technology, which they say is vital to investigations.

State police also say that facial recognition can only be used when there is probable cause that a person has committed a crime.

Robinson said he understands that the technology may be important but he thinks lawmakers and residents need time to really understand how the technology is being used so that civil liberties can be protected.