The Los Angeles Police Commission voted unanimously this week to approve the LAPD's use of facial recognition software to identify potential suspects.
The policy was approved with a modification for the Inspector General to work with the commission's executive committee to develop and ensure a “strong oversight system,'' according to Commission President Eileen Decker.
The department uses photo comparison technology from Los Angeles County's Digital Mugshot System to identify suspects in three situations:
* to investigate crimes;
* to mitigate an imminent threat to life; and
* to help identify a person who is incapable of identifying themselves, including when the person is incapacitated, deceased or at-risk.
The LAPD does not allow facial recognition platforms outside the county's mugshot system to be used, and the computer-generated list of comparisons must be investigated further by human analysis, KFI/CNS report.