Ann Arbor considering ban on police use of facial-recognition technology
Updated Jan 07, 2021;
Posted Jan 07, 2021
An Ann Arbor Police Department K-9 Unit parked outside the police station on Dec. 31, 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News
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ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor officials are considering a ban on police use of a facial-recognition technology.
The issue came up this week as City Council reconsidered its recent approval of a $348,308 contract for new dashboard cameras for Ann Arbor Police Department vehicles.
Even though facial-recognition technology is not part of the contract and Police Chief Michael Cox said AAPD doesn’t use it, Linh Song, a council liaison to the city’s police oversight commission, said she brought the contract back for reconsideration Monday night, Jan. 4, to have a public discussion about it and address concerns.
Ann Arbor officials aim to address City Council’s bad reputation in community
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
Posted Dec 16, 2020
Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, speaks during the Ann Arbor City Council s annual retreat and budget planning session Dec. 14, 2020.City of Ann Arbor
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ANN ARBOR, MI After two years filled with political fights among City Council members over everything from water rates to new development to firing the city administrator, public confidence in Ann Arbor city government is low.
In a recent city survey, only 57% of residents offered positive ratings about overall confidence in city government, down from 63% two years ago, and 60% offered positive ratings about city officials being honest, down from 66%.