Thread by @JoAnnPDX

On Sept. 9th, City Council will hear public testimony on a citywide facial recognition software ban in both the public and private sector. The private sector ban will be the first of its kind throughout the country. (Thread - 1/7)

gothamist.com/news/nypd-used…

After months of deep conversations with community advocates & work with city staff & colleagues, this ban sets the tone for Portland’s dedication to digital privacy. (2)

The public sector ban prohibits any city bureaus from utilizing facial recognition software, while the private sector ban prohibits private businesses from using the technology in public spaces. (3)

I highly encourage Portlanders to tune in and/or offer public testimony on this issue that affects us all. Once the council agenda comes out later this week, I will share more information on how you can sign up to testify. (4)

With these concerning reports of state surveillance of Black Lives Matter activists and the use of facial recognition technology to aid in the surveillance, it is especially important that Portland prohibits its bureaus from using this technology. (5)

#FacialRecognition tech, with its gender and racial bias and inaccuracies, is an intrusion on Portlanders' privacy. No one should have something as private as their face photographed, stored, and sold to third parties for a profit. (6)

No one should be unfairly thrust into the criminal justice system because the tech algorithm misidentified an innocent person. (7/7 - End Thread)