Facial recognition software has proven to be a highly divisive topic in Boston, sparking a years-long debate regarding its potential use in police investigations. A report issued in March of 2022 by Massachusetts’ Special Commission to Evaluate Government Use of Facial Recognition Technology in the Commonwealth cited the need for “another layer of protection and oversight,” but did not recommend preventing police from using the technology.

One reason for the controversy is the software’s higher degree of error when identifying racial minorities and women as opposed to white males. This is part of the reason Boston was the second-largest city worldwide to ban police from using the software in June of 2020. Now-mayor Michele Wu, a Boston City Councilmember at the time, said “we’re working to end systemic racism,” including “over-surveillance of communities of color.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) strongly opposed banning the software. They stated that biometric and image analytics technology should be used “as a secondary tool in investigations to assist personnel, who ultimately use other means to make an identification.” The SIA noted that this technology is used by a nonprofit group called Thorn to fight human trafficking; so far, they have identified over 17,000 child victims.

People in favor of banning facial recognition technology believe that it perpetuates racial #discrimination and threatens residents' fundamental right to privacy. They say the software has the potential to be misused by authorities or people who have hacked into the system. In contrast, others believe that facial identification software is an important tool that should be used to help police solve crimes. They say that when used properly, it gives investigators an incalculable advantage that will save more lives.

The question up for debate: Was it the right decision for Boston's City Council to ban police from using facial recognition technology?