Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor intends to introduce legislation Tuesday that would regulate the usage of facial recognition and predictive policing technology in the city.
“This technology has harmed more people than it has helped,” O’Connor said.
Under O’Connor’s legislation, council approval would be needed for the police to use the technology.
Facial recognition is not regularly used by police in the city, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.
The department doesn’t own any of facial recognition computer programs, but the technology can be used by departments as part of the Pennsylvania Justice Network, a statewide law enforcement network.
“It’s primary use is as an investigative tool only. The results of a search are considered investigative leads,” Cruz said.
City cameras aren’t equipped with or linked to “any type of facial recognition technology,” she said.
In June, the department suspended a program that used algorithms developed by Carnegie Mellon University, Cruz said.
Public Safety officials “weren’t properly consulted” about O’Connor’s proposed legislation, Cruz said.
Although it isn’t in use now, formalizing a restriction on the technology is worthwhile, O’Connor said.
It will provide a check if and when the department wants to use the technology that it needs council permission to do so, he said.
“It’s not like we’re taking any tools out of the tool box. It’s just clarifying that if you want to use this technology, be open and transparent,” O’Connor said.
The legislation is among several bills that council members have have said they intend to introduce to reform the police department as Black Lives Matter protests calling for reforms are being held regularly in the city.
“People are talking with passion and hearts and we need to listen,” O’Connor said.
It’s time to “get real leadership on board to have these difficult conversations,” he said.
O’Connor’s legislation comes after activists from the Black LGBTQ community Monday announced they will be sponsoring more protests.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has also shaken up the police department to better respond to clashes between protesters and police, some of which have happened outside the mayor’s Point Breeze home.
Last Wednesday, a protest that started with an attempt at a conversation between Peduto and the protesters ended at an impasse.
A Beautiful Night in the Neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/BAiepatl4N
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) August 19, 2020
Mayor Bill Peduto addressed protesters on his front porch in the last hour.
The exchange ended in an impasse.
Despite receiving the audience they asked for, the protesters continue to loudly demonstrate outside his Point Breeze home. pic.twitter.com/psK0fr57s5
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) August 20, 2020
After that protest, a melee ensued near Mellon Park and one person was arrested. By Friday, Peduto announced the changes in the department, which include removing the Pittsburgh Police Special Response Teams trained in traditional crowd-control tactics from the first line of response during protests.
Other council members have said they intend to address the issue now that council is back in session from its August break.
City council is set to be briefed Thursday afternoon by Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich and police Chief Scott Schubert about the issues that have come up during the protests, according to council President Theresa Kail-Smith.
