May 3, 2023, published by Kala Rama
There are thousands of cameras scattered around the city, monitoring New Yorkers. Some even have facial recognition and collect your biometrics.
Retailers like Amazon use it to see what you’re buying, and law enforcement agencies use the technology to catch criminals or find missing people.
On Wednesday, a discussion of the pros and cons of this technology took place at the City Hall.
Two new pieces of legislation have been proposed to ban facial recognition and biometric technology at public venues and residential buildings.
“They [cameras] disproportionally impact people who are BIPOC, working class, and whistleblowers, so we must speak up against these attacks on everyday people,” said Councilmember Shana Hanif of District 39 in Brooklyn.
“We see more landlords implementing tech solutions to security for residents, but facial recognition and biometric systems open the door for discrimination and harassment,” said Carlina Rivera, another council member spearheading facial recognition software.