The Fight to Stop Face Recognition Technology

The Fight to Stop Face Recognition Technology
Face recognition surveillance presents an unprecedented threat to our privacy and civil liberties. It gives governments, companies, and individuals the power to spy on us wherever we go — tracking our faces at protests, political rallies, places of worship, and more. The ACLU is taking to the courts, streets, legislatures, city councils, and even corporate boardrooms to defend our rights against the growing dangers of this unregulated surveillance technology.
Last updated on July 15, 2021
Arrested Because the 'Computer Got it Wrong'

Robert Williams, a Black man living in Michigan, was handcuffed and hauled away by Detroit police in front of his wife and young girls because of a false face recognition match. Even though he was locked up for 30 hours despite being innocent, he considers himself lucky. As a Black man, he knows the consequences of a false match and police arrest could have been deadly.
What You Can Do
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies
Stop Face Surveillance TechnologiesFeatured Stories

Biden Must Halt Face Recognition Technology to Advance Racial Equity
Face recognition is a threat to not only our constitutional rights, but to people of color and other marginalized groups who are more likely to be misidentified — and bear the consequences.
Biden Must Halt Face Recognition Technology to Advance Racial Equity
The Computer Got it Wrong: Why We’re Taking the Detroit Police to Court Over a Faulty Face Recognition 'Match'
Face recognition technology turns everybody into a suspect and threatens our civil rights.
The Computer Got it Wrong: Why We’re Taking the Detroit Police to Court Over a Faulty Face Recognition 'Match'
When We Fight, We Win: Victories in the Fight Against Face Surveillance Keep Piling Up
The extension of Amazon's moratorium is a major win for racial justice, curbing police powers, and privacy — but we won’t stop fighting until all people are protected.
When We Fight, We Win: Victories in the Fight Against Face Surveillance Keep Piling Up
Stop the Police Surveillance State Too
We can't let cash-strapped police departments shift from racist human policing to racist technology-driven policing.
Stop the Police Surveillance State Too
Wrongfully Arrested Because Face Recognition Can’t Tell Black People Apart
It is now more urgent than ever for our lawmakers to stop law enforcement use of face recognition technology.
Wrongfully Arrested Because Face Recognition Can’t Tell Black People Apart
The Untold Number of People Implicated in Crimes They Didn’t Commit Because of Face Recognition
The sheer scope of police face recognition use in this country means that people have almost certainly been — and will continue to be — misidentified, if not arrested and charged for crimes they didn’t commit.
The Untold Number of People Implicated in Crimes They Didn’t Commit Because of Face Recognition
Microsoft Says it Supports Racial Justice. Will it Refuse to Power Discriminatory Police Surveillance?
If companies believe that Black Lives Matter, the least they can do is refuse to perpetuate and profit off our racist criminal justice system.
Microsoft Says it Supports Racial Justice. Will it Refuse to Power Discriminatory Police Surveillance?
How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist?
If police are authorized to deploy invasive face surveillance technologies against our communities, these technologies will unquestionably be used to target Black and Brown people merely for existing.
How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist?
We’re Taking Clearview AI to Court to End its Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance Activities
The company’s surveillance activities are a threat to privacy, safety, and security.
We’re Taking Clearview AI to Court to End its Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance Activities
The Government's Nightmare Vision for Face Recognition at Airports and Beyond
A CBP airport face recognition program is poised to expand into American life.
The Government's Nightmare Vision for Face Recognition at Airports and Beyond
2019 Proved We Can Stop Face Recognition Surveillance
Congress can — and must — make 2020 the year we rein this technology in once and for all.
2019 Proved We Can Stop Face Recognition Surveillance
A Border Officer Told Me I Couldn’t Opt Out of the Face Recognition Scan. They Were Wrong.
If I, carrying all the privilege of a white ACLU lawyer, could not opt-out of the invasive technology, what chance do other travelers — and particularly people of color — have to assert their rights?
A Border Officer Told Me I Couldn’t Opt Out of the Face Recognition Scan. They Were Wrong.
The FBI is Tracking Our Faces in Secret. We’re Suing.
There can be no accountability if there is no transparency.
The FBI is Tracking Our Faces in Secret. We’re Suing.
California Just Blocked Police Body Cam Use of Face Recognition
Face recognition surveillance isn’t inevitable. California is the latest to prove that we can stop it.
California Just Blocked Police Body Cam Use of Face Recognition
An Army of Robot Surveillance Guards Is Coming
Policymakers need to confront the reality that millions of AI watchers could soon watch over each of us, constantly judging and shaping our behavior.
An Army of Robot Surveillance Guards Is Coming
The FBI Has Access to Over 640 Million Photos of Us Through Its Facial Recognition Database
That’s about double the total U.S. population.
The FBI Has Access to Over 640 Million Photos of Us Through Its Facial Recognition Database
Florida Is Using Facial Recognition to Convict People Without Giving Them a Chance to Challenge the Tech
The Constitution requires the government to give defendants the chance to test technology used against them for bugs and biases.
Florida Is Using Facial Recognition to Convict People Without Giving Them a Chance to Challenge the Tech
Amazon Teams Up With Government to Deploy Dangerous New Facial Recognition Technology
Amazon has developed a powerful and dangerous new surveillance system and is actively helping governments deploy it.
Amazon Teams Up With Government to Deploy Dangerous New Facial Recognition Technology
Hey Clearview, Your Misleading PR Campaign Doesn’t Make Your Face Surveillance Product Any Less Dystopian
Accurate or not, Clearview's face surveillance technology in law enforcement hands will end privacy as we know it.
Hey Clearview, Your Misleading PR Campaign Doesn’t Make Your Face Surveillance Product Any Less Dystopian
Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door
Amazon’s patent application for doorbell cameras provides a roadmap for the company’s vision of a surveillance-heavy future.
Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door
Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members of Congress With Mugshots
The results illustrate the dangers of police use of facial recognition technology.
Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members of Congress With MugshotsOur work to stop the spread of face surveillance

We’re leading the fight in legislatures nationwide to stop law enforcement use of face recognition.
Which companies sell face surveillance to police
