Across the United States, police departments are increasingly using AI facial recognition software as a tool to identify crime suspects. This technology has the capability to compare faces on surveillance footage against millions of driver's license photos. However, it draws some serious concerns from experts who highlight that this technology is more likely to make errors when identifying people of color, leading to severe real-life implications.
The instance of a Detroit homeowner, who was misidentified by the facial recognition software, perfectly illustrates the faults within the system. She was falsely accused of carjacking and robbery, and subsequently arrested and spent 11 hours in jail. The wrong identification came from the software incorrectly matching a mugshot from her arrest eight years ago to a carjacking suspect in a video. Despite this mishap, the local police department defended the technology and blamed its officers for the error.
