Face Recognition Policy Development Template

Face recognition technology can be a valuable investigative tool to detect and prevent criminal activity; reduce an imminent threat to health or safety; protect the public; help identify persons unable to identify themselves, or deceased persons; and improve security and officer safety. However, law enforcement’s use of face recognition tools in investigative and criminal intelligence activities has been the subject of much scrutiny regarding concerns about the accuracy of the technology, use at First Amendment-protected events, and assertions that face recognition systems are being used without appropriate safeguards, such as law, policy, training, and audits. Since images of individual persons are the source of face recognition information, there are higher expectations for the protection of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties (P/CRCL). Currently, there is no uniform set of rules in the United States governing the gathering, collection, use, sharing, and dissemination of information available through face recognition tools. The potential for misuse of face recognition information may expose agencies participating in such systems to civil liability and negative public perceptions.

---