Florida Security Plan Fails (Facial Recognisation Cameras)

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 8-21-2003 | AP

[blam]

Florida security plan fails

AP in Tampa
Thursday August 21, 2003
The Guardian (UK)

Florida police have scrapped a security camera system that scanned city streets for criminals, saying it had failed to recognise anyone wanted by authorities since its introduction two years ago. The system was intended to recognise the facial characteristics of criminals and runaway children by matching passers-by in the Ybor City district of Tampa with a database of 30,000 mugshots.

"It's just proven not to have any benefit to us," Captain Bob Guidara, a department spokesman, said.

The cameras have led only to arrests for such crimes as drug deals.

Critics welcomed the end of the programme. "It's a relief," said Darlene Williams, of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Any time you have this sort of technology on public streets, you are subjecting people who come to Ybor to an electronic police lineup, without any kind of probable cause."

[Chummy]

Were these the same cameras used to "ensure" the security of the rererererererecounts?

[NonValueAdded]

There have been lots of posts of similar stories as this topic makes its way slowly around the world. I see the story has now crossed the pond. See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968162/posts?page=5#5 for my rant on the subject.

Maybe the folks in England can use facial recognition software to keep track of dangerous homeowners and farmers so the burglars can roam free without fear of justice.