Facial recognition ban reversed by New Orleans City Council
Victoria Rees
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The use of facial recognition technology tools has been restored after an ordinance was approved by the New Orleans City Council. The technology will be used to aid the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) in their criminal investigations under new ‘guardrails’ and subject to comprehensive use policy approved by the federal government.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell expressed support for the measure, which reverses a ban in effect since 2020 and is expected to approve it when it reaches her desk.
New Orleans, which led the nation in murders halfway through the year, is the latest jurisdiction where lawmakers are rethinking blanket bans and seeking to establish rules instead.
The Security Industry Association (SIA) has been keeping track of facial recognition usage in jurisdictions across the country.
It notes that earlier this year, Virginia lawmakers replaced the state’s ban on law enforcement use of facial recognition technology with comprehensive rules, key protections were added in Alabama and Kentucky moved to establish statewide standards. Additionally, city council members in West Lafayette, Ind., rejected a proposed ban for city agencies.
