Mall of America's [BLOOMINGTON, Minn.] security team will start using facial recognition software as part of safety plan

CBS Minnesota ^ | June 27, 2024 / 9:23 AM EDT CBS Minnesota | Derek James

[GonzoII]

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Mall of America now has a new way to keep shoppers safe.

A new high-tech layer of security has been added after gun-related incidents in recent years.

Signs let you know you're coming face to face with new facial recognition technology.

"Very mixed feelings about this because it could be useful and not so useful sometimes," said Melva Bargiela, a long-time Minnesota resident who is now living in Spain.

Cameras with the ability to map faces have been installed to give shoppers peace of mind while detecting potential threats.

"I think they're watching us all the time, have been for years," said Monday West, a visitor from Southern California.

"Our system is not scanning faces to go find out who you are," said Will Benhjelm, vice president of security at Mall of America...

[SaveFerris]

[said Melva Bargiela, a long-time Minnesota resident who is now living in Spain.]

Wow. They must have some really great stuff at Mall of America if one travels all the way from Spain just to shop there.

The Orange Smoothies must be fantastic.

Are the new Oldsmobiles in early this year? Baby clothes?

[KSCITYBOY]

LOL but you might be right

[MayflowerMadam]

I guess that it’s OK, as long as shoppers are aware of the spying before they go in.

This has been a thing on cruise ships for a few years now. I don’t like it, but at least it’s not being hidden. If someone objected enough, he could choose to not go.

[Fireone]

MN Attorney General Keith Hakeem Ellison is, no doubt, writing up the lawsuit against this, as we speak.
We all know, criminals of color are the higher percentage of those “singled out” by this policy. That’s racist. /s

[moovova]

“...a long-time Minnesota resident who is now living in Spain.”

They had to go to Spain to get a comment from someone?

[Scrambler Bob]

ok we know who they are so we can arrest them and let them go the same day
= = =

Are thieves allowed to be stopped? By store employees?

Or is this to stop getting little boys from being tossed over the edge to the street?

[BikerJoe]

Dumbest thing the Mall ever did was to get Minniesoter to extend light rail to the Mall from downtown.

Can you get there another way? Only been to Minneapolis once, when I was flying through and had a fairly long stopover. Decided to see the Mall and took a shuttle from the airport. Couldn't believe how bad the roads were. Hope they've improved.

[Chad C. Mulligan]

Can you get there another way?

It was originally out in farmland, you either drove your car or you didn't go. They had (maybe still have) a huge lot of motorhome hookups. It was a tourist destination for the motorhome community. (Every farmer for 900 miles has a motorhome.) I lived near MNPLS for about a year, did my 1999 Christmas shopping there and it was real nice. Safe, families with kids, that sort of thing. I gather that it's not like that anymore.

[minnesota_bound]

You can be falsely charged with a crime as you look like someone else. A secret database that is passed around. Your potential employer will get access just like your credit report and you do not get the job. I have read stories of people who had bad credit records because someone used their name. Near impossible to clear your name.