Demand oversight for the use of facial recognition technology.

Facial recognition technology is inaccurate, and miscategorizes the faces of Black people.

Demand New York City Speaker Corey Johnson regulate NYPD’s use of facial recognition technology.

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Dear John.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has targeted Black people, neighborhoods, and even children with the use of unregulated facial recognition technology and must be stopped.1,2 

On the second day of the new year, more than three weeks after the US House of Representatives voted to impeach him, President Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani.3,4 In response, the NYPD released statements in preparation for possible retaliation, but made no mention of how increased security will put Black communities in harm's way.5 With no oversight for the use of facial recognition technology, Black New York City residents run the risk of winding up in a unregulated police database, or even arrested and prosecuted, due to the inaccuracy of this technology and its disproportionate use against our communities. 

In the face of current events, now is the time for New York City Speaker Corey Johnson to sign the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act into law and require the NYPD to submit information to the public about the surveillance technology it uses.

Demand New York City Speaker Corey Johnson pass the POST Act to rein in facial recognition technology.

NYPD surveillance tools present a danger to all New Yorkers, more specifically Black New Yorkers. The NYPD’s arsenal of spy tools, at its core, is a flawed form of surveillance that comes at the expense of basic human rights, security, and privacy. A recent study performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology has scientifically proven that facial recognition technology is inaccurate, and miscategorizes the faces of women and Black people, who are one hundred times more likely to have a false positive reading.6,7  

In a test conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union, the facial recognition technology used by Amazon and known as Rekognition, incorrectly matched the photos of 28 members of Congress with mug shots of individuals with previous arrests. Alarmingly, these false matches also disproportionately identified six members of the Congressional Black Caucus.8 Police violence against Black people is at an all-time high and we cannot allow lawmakers to ignore how facial recognition programs and increased homeland security so often result in potentially violent interactions with the police. 

Demand New York City Speaker Corey Johnson prioritize Black New York City residents and regulate NYPD’s use of facial recognition technology. 

New York City Council members introduced the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, which requires the NYPD to disclose how it utilizes electronic surveillance tools, more than two years ago.9 Passing this bill comes with the overwhelming support of New Yorkers and a veto proof majority from Councilmembers. The POST Act has been championed by Speaker Corey Johnson since its inception and his continued support would come at the defense of Black New York City residents.

Police should never have access to highly invasive technology such as ”X-ray vans” and “Stingray” cell phone towers that track cell phone user locations. However, since this technology is currently in use, there must be policies and procedures that control it.10 It’s long past time that Speaker Corey Johnson follow through with his commitment to the POST Act and enforce regulations requiring that the NYPD be transparent about its experimentation on its citizens.

Demand Speaker Corey Johnson pass the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act.

Color Of Change successfully fought for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to adopt the Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance, banning San Francisco agencies from acquiring or using facial recognition technologies. Our efforts to hold elected officials accountable for racially biased technologies has the strength of 30 partner organizations to ensure this invasive technology does not further oppress and harm our communities. Cities such as Oakland, California and Somerville, Massachusetts have banned the use of facial recognition, and other cities are demanding oversight and accountability.11

Sign the petition: Demand Speaker Corey Johnson pass the POST Act.

Until justice is real,

--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

  1. “Facial Recognition Controversy Spurs Push For Stalled NYPD Transparency Bill,” City and State New York, August 5, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226255?t=10&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  2. “She Was Arrested at 14. Then Her Photo Went to a Facial Recognition Database,” The New York Times, August 1, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/182667?t=12&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  3. “Trump Was Impeached December 18. Why Hasn't The Impeachment Trial Begun?,” CNN, January 10, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226256?t=14&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  4. “The War That’s Been Coming,” Blavity, January 3, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226257?t=16&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  5. “NYPD Increasing Security Following U.S. Airstrike That Killed Top Iranian General,” NBC New York, January 3, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226259?t=18&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV
  6. “Facial Recognition Is Accurate, if You’re a White Guy,” The New York Times, February 9, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/182662?t=20&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  7. “Facial-recognition Technology Has A Racial-bias Problem, According to a New Landmark Federal Study,” Business Insider, December 20, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226260?t=22&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  8. “Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members of Congress With Mugshots,” ACLU, July 26, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/102218?t=24&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  9. “The New York City Council Black, Latino, And Asian Caucus,” BLAC Press Release, November 28, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226145?t=26&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV.
  10. “Fact-Check The POST-Act National Security,” Brennan Center, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226261?t=28&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV
  11. “Oakland Bans Use Of Facial Recognition Technology, Citing Bias Concerns,” San Francisco Chronicle, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226262?t=30&akid=40440%2E4731121%2EY2pElV. 

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