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BREAKING: Following PublicSource reporting, CMU drops its draft policy that would have allowed the use of facial recognition technology on campus.
Dear Reader,

A July 6 story ([link removed]) by PublicSource higher education reporter Emma Folts shed light on a policy under consideration by Carnegie Mellon University that would have allowed campus police to use controversial facial recognition software. Ten days later, CMU released a statement saying that due to community feedback, the policy allowing the software was no longer under consideration.

This isn’t the first time PublicSource’s reporting has led to change on the issue of facial recognition. In 2020, we obtained emails showing the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office had trialed facial recognition software ([link removed]) , which later was shown to have been used to identify Black Lives Matter protesters ([link removed]) . After our story was published, Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation barring its use ([link removed]) except in emergency situations, and Allegheny County considered a similar ordinance ([link removed]) .

Screenshots of original tweet from PublicSource: CMU has shelved a draft policy that contemplated use of facial recognition technology under some circumstances, a week after @emmafolts revealed the existence of the nascent surveillance rules. Quote tweet from Vegetarian Epicure (@Veg_Epic): "I was thinking this weekend that you can draw a straight line from PublicSource and @emmafolts's reporting to this policy getting tabled. Grateful to have this kind of local independent journalism. Consider supporting them if you can."
Screenshot used with permission from @Veg_Epic

As reader Veg_Epic noted, PublicSource’s reporting is key to making sure residents are aware of and can respond to important local developments. But we can’t do this work without reader support.

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Sincerely,

Halle Stockton
Editor-in-Chief
PublicSource

P.S. Have information on a story Pittsburgh should know about? Here’s how to safely leak to us ([link removed]) , or if your message doesn’t need to be encrypted, you can send us a pitch or tip ([link removed]) .


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