(NewsNation) — A new fight is playing out amidst the New Orleans jailbreak saga, with the city’s police in the spotlight. NewsNation Midwest correspondent Nick Smith says questions are now swirling about whether there were rules bent by police using AI to find fugitives.
New Orleans police say they identified two of the 10 fugitives who were on the run by “Project NOLA”, a private camera network that uses real-time facial recognition. Five of the criminals remain at large.
“This is the exact reason why facial recognition technology is so critical,” said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
The officers reportedly used the camera network without required oversight or city approval, which has critics complaining that the technology is flawed on its own.
“They misidentify dark skinned women and trans individuals three times more than any other demographic,” added Renard Bridgewater, of Eye on Surveillance. “In addition to the fact that it continuously costs taxpayers within our city money. Those cameras and surveillance technology are not Robocop. They’re a reactionary tool that does not prevent crime.”
The city says the rules were made very clear when “Project NOLA” was implemented in 2022. It was specifically to be used for violent crimes only, with human review.
“The amendment also provides additional safeguards that the technology cannot be used as probable cause for an arrest,” said New Orleans City Council’s Eugene J. Green.
According to the ACLU, officers were getting live alerts right to their phones with no documentation or disclosure.
Privacy consultants, like Sharon Polsky, believe that’s a scary defect.
“Why should everybody have to go through hoops to maintain their own privacy?” she acknowledged. “Shouldn’t it be the suspects who are under scrutiny? Not everybody? The balance hasn’t been reached yet.”
“Project NOLA” was paused last month, but some officials say the technology works and should stay.