© David DelPoio / USA TODAY NETWORK
grocery shopping
(New York, NY) – The New York City Council is proposing a bill to ban facial recognition technology, something an increasing number of store owners have introduced to combat theft. The legislation would require a customer’s written consent before capturing their biometric information. These requirements would make it very challenging for stores to implement this software as a way to catch shoplifters.
The bill, much like facial recognition technology itself, is controversial. Supporters of the legislation argue that use of this technology increases racial profiling. Critics that spoke to the New York Post maintain that the system is highly accurate for middle-aged white men but wrong around 30% of the time with women of color. Meanwhile, store owners that have invested in the technology shared with the Post that the software has rarely inaccurately identified the wrong person.
The Post’s reporting went on to say that since a May 3 committee hearing regarding the bill, the number of legislators in support has risen from 7 to 15.
