New legislation aimed at regulating the use of facial recognition and other forms of surveillance technology could test Baltimore lawmakers’ authority over their own police department, which is stuck in limbo in the wake of residents’ vote last year to bring the the department under city control. Twin bills introduced by Councilman Kristerfer Burnett would require both City Council approval and public input before the police department or other agencies can purchase surveillance technology.
Proposals to regulate facial recognition could be ‘test case’ for Baltimore’s authority over its police
May 2, 2023