VOA新闻杂志2022--美国多地恢复面部识别以维持治安

US Cities, States Returning to Facial Recognition¹ for Policing

From 2019 through 2021, many American state and city governments passed laws restricting the use of facial recognition software in crime prevention.

Facial recognition is a way of using software to identify an individual by matching their face to a database² of images. Studies at the time found the technology less successful at correctly identifying Black people than white people. So, under pressure from social justice organizations, many states put restrictions³ in place.

Now, local governments across the United States are starting to use facial recognition software again. The move comes as crime in the country has increased. At the same time, software companies say the technology has improved and no longer incorrectly recognizes Black people.

In the coming months, the states of Virginia and California will permit local police to use the recognition programs. Before this year, Vermont did not permit the software, but now officers can use the systems in cases of child sexual⁴ abuse.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, murder reports rose 67 percent over the last two years compared with the previous two. And police in the southern city are set to start using the technology later this month.

The leader of the New Orleans police department is Shaun Ferguson. He said the "technology is needed to solve these crimes and to hold individuals accountable."

Improved technology

Ongoing⁵ research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown facial recognition technology is getting better. And testing from the Department of Homeland Security found the software is better at recognizing people of all skin colors.

But not all government agencies are certain about the improvements.

The General Services Administration reviews companies that want to work for the U.S. government. It recently said the tools do not work well enough when studying African Americans. In addition, the U.S. government is forming a group to study facial recognition and its use in police work.

Jake Parker works for the Security Industry Association, a trade group that represents software companies. He said there is a "growing interest" in the technology if it is used in "a nondiscriminatory way that benefits communities."

One company that makes the software is Clearview AI. It recently settled a legal action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU said Clearview violated⁶ the privacy⁷ of billions of people by collecting photos and information taken from social media without permission. Clearview, which helps police find matches in its social media database, said it welcomes "any regulation that helps society ... while limiting potential downsides."

Limited use of software

Starting on July 1, police in Virginia will be able to use facial recognition tools that have 98 percent or higher accuracy based on the NIST test. The software could be used with some controls. For example, it cannot be used with live video. That means police can only review images that have already been gathered.

Parker, from the Security Industry Association, said the state is the first in the nation to require the software first be approved for use by a U.S. government agency.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is a former member of the city police department. He said facial recognition software could be used safely under existing rules.

Other states, such as Washington, are putting rules in place that require police departments to show that the software works under the same conditions as it will be used in day-to-day life.

In California, the use of facial recognition with body cameras may come back on January 1, 2023. Jennifer Jones is a lawyer for the ACLU in Northern California. She said news reports about crime are permitting police departments to re-start conversations about the software.

"Police departments are exploiting people's fears" about crime in order to gain more power, she said, adding that new technology is "pushed in moments of crisis⁸."

Words in This Story

accountable– n. required to show responsibility for problems that may occur

benefit – n. to be useful or helpful

regulation – n. an official rule that says how something should be done

potential – n. something that may happen in the future

accuracy- n. the ability to work without making mistakes

exploit – v. to use something in a way that helps you unfairly

1 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。

2 database   

n.数据库 （=databank）

参考例句：

• I discovered some new information in the database.我在资料库里发现了一些新信息。
• We planned to build an online database.我们计划建一个联机数据库。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 violated   

亵渎( violate的过去式和过去分词 )； 违反； 侵犯； 强奸

参考例句：

• Note that thick, strong angles of tibia are not violated. 注意肥厚、结实的胫骨成角部分未受损坏。
• The soldiers violated the church by using it as a stable. 士兵们把教堂当马厩，亵渎了教堂。

7 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。

8 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。