John,

Did you see this video about Lamya, a Black teen who was kicked out of a skating rink after she was misidentified with “97% certainty” by facial recognition?

As facial recognition technology spreads to more businesses and corporations, disturbing stories like Lamya’s may soon become a daily reality for tens of thousands of people. This is why we need a ban on facial recognition tech across the board—and we hope you will sign our new petition to ban facial recognition in public places now.

People’s faces—especially the faces of our children—should not be scanned, stored, or sold just because they visited a particular business.¹ Lamya’s story also shows facial recognition puts people of color at particular risk of being misidentified and then harassed or physically attacked by business employees and/or the police.² On top of that, this tech amplifies existing inequities related to access to services, the likelihood of being surveilled, and other experiences of harm from power structures.

Portland, Oregon’s City Commissioners told their business community that “1984 is a dystopian novel, not a business plan”³ when they recently passed a ban on facial recognition in public places. The Council press release explained that Portlanders need assurance the city and its business community are “not using untested technologies with demonstrated racial and gender biases, that compromise personal privacy, and that may wrongfully ensnare individuals in the criminal justice system.”⁴

This should have never happened to Lamya. Join us in telling lawmakers everywhere: follow Portland’s example and enact a ban on facial recognition in public places––sign on now!

Onward,

Leila & the Team at ❤️Fight

1. Fight for the Future: https://www.banfacialrecognition.com/stores/

2. Blavity: https://blavity.com/black-teen-barred-from-skating-rink-after-being-misidentified-by-facial-recognition-system

3. Twitter: https://twitter.com/fightfortheftr/status/1308246451630243840

4. City of Portland: https://www.portland.gov/smart-city-pdx/news/2020/9/9/city-council-approves-ordinances-banning-use-face-recognition

Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.