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Minneapolis City Council Clearview AihatmakerTechCrunch AI Facial Recognition Software

Are you aware of the City of Minneapolis City Council Clearview AihatmakerTechCrunch efforts to ban facial recognition software? Facial recognition is software that enables law enforcement. Agencies to search through facial images, which have been capture by cameras, for potential suspects. Although police officers deny using the software, it has been criticize as being dangerous and also unreliable

Minneapolis Police Department

The Minneapolis City Council Clearview AihatmakerTechCrunch passed an ordinance on April 11 banning facial recognition software, a move that adds the city to the growing list of cities in the United States that are looking to limit the use of such technology. The ban would cover the Minneapolis Police Department, but would not apply to other local law enforcement agencies.

Symbol of Racial Injustice

Minneapolis City Council Clearview AihatmakerTechCrunch is known as a symbol of racial injustice and also has become the focus of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd in police custody last summer. As a result, the facial recognition ban is meant to protect citizens. However, it’s possible the ban could lead to a regulatory overreach.

Many privacy advocates have voiced concerns about the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement. The technology has been found to have a racial bias and also to have been link to wrongful identifications.

Minneapolis Police Deny using the Software

It’s not the first time a Minneapolis City Council Clearview AihatmakerTechCrunch department has been the subject of controversy. In the past, the department has used a number of surveillance technologies including body cameras, license plate readers, and the controversial Clearview AI, which powers the facial recognition system.

Stingrays

The department also has access to Stingrays, a pair of towers that mimic cellphone towers. This technology has been touted as a means of target Black Lives Matter protesters. But it has also been use to detain suspected terrorists and criminals.

Nebulous Technologies

Other more nebulous technologies have been utilize by the department, like a five year deal with police body camera company Axon. Notably, the department is also part of a federal grant program for enhancing its surveillance capabilities.

Another noteworthy milestone in the policing world is the creation of the state’s first public crime laboratory, known as the Minnesota Fusion Center. One of its purposes is to provide crime intelligence to other local, state, and federal agencies.

Secret Surveillance Program

It’s a secret surveillance program, and it’s been in use by law enforcement agencies. in Minnesota for at least a year. Documents uncovered in an investigation reveal how it’s changed the nature of protest in the United States.

A watch list of activists was assembled by the Criminal Intelligence Division of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. The list includes a wide variety of people, including journalists, civil rights leaders, and even people arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol.

Social Media Monitoring Tools

Using social media monitoring tools like Social Sentinel and Geofeedia, police can keep tabs on protesters. They can use facial recognition software to identify individuals in photos, videos, and other forms of media.

Similarly, they can use geofence warrants to track the whereabouts of individuals. Typically, these warrants will only be used to identify civilians in general areas, but the technology can also be use to pinpoint specific individuals.

Operation Safety Net

A secret surveillance program has been carry out in Minnesota by law enforcement agencies. The program targets journalists and civil rights activists. It is run under the “Operation Safety Net” (OSN) consortium.

An investigation by Buzzfeed News and Unicorn Riot has revealed. that the fusion center has accessed billions of photos from social media. The fusion center also sells facial images to private companies.

Minnesota Fusion Center

The Minnesota Fusion Center is part of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and provides a platform for sharing information amongst law enforcement agencies. This includes information on threats, crime, and critical infrastructure.

Final Words:

In addition to sharing information with other state and federal law enforcement entities, the fusion center also provides information on organized criminal activity. The Minnesota Fusion Center works with Clearview AI, a company that builds a database of billions of facial images.

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