Finding a Broadly Practical Approach for Regulating the Use of Facial Recognition by Law Enforcement

Abstract

Technological advances in society often have implications for policing. Specifically, much as fingerprinting and DNA evidence were groundbreaking advances that have been used to solve serious crimes, remote biometric identification, such as facial recognition and object identification, is rapidly developing and being used in policing. This has significant implications for legislators and policymakers, criminal justice officials, and society in general that should be understood, and further developments need to include efforts to maximize the benefits of such technology while limiting the potential risks. This report examines current and near-future uses of facial recognition by law enforcement and identifies the various concerns and related policy domains that could be used to guide public policy. This report will be useful for policymakers, criminal justice officials, and interested members of the public. Justice Policy ProgramRAND Social and Economic Well-Being is a division of the RAND Corporation that seeks to actively improve the health and social and economic well-being of populations and communities throughout the world. This research was conducted in the Justice Policy Program within RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. The program focuses on such topics as access to justice, policing, corrections, drug policy, and court system reform, as well as other policy concerns pertaining to public safety and criminal and civil justice. For more information, email