Many individuals arrested and charged based on facial recognition scan results often feel compelled to plead guilty, especially if they have a criminal record. This situation can lead to longer sentences and increased scrutiny from law enforcement and prosecutors, contrasting with the case of Robert Williams in Detroit City.

Detroit’s recent $300,000 settlement with Williams raises broader concerns about how facial technology is used to solve crimes. It underscores increasing worries about privacy rights and the importance of establishing protections as technology advances.

Robert Williams Sued the Detroit Police Department After being Mistakenly Identified as Theft Suspect

Detroit has agreed to pay $300,000 to Robert Williams, who was wrongly accused of theft due to flawed facial recognition technology. Williams sued the Detroit Police Department after he was wrongfully arrested in front of his family and jailed for 30 hours in 2020,

The case was dismissed on Friday when the settlement between Williams and the city was filed in federal court. As part of the lawsuit settlement, the Detroit Police Department will also have to change its policies on how police will utilize this technology to prevent future misidentifications. 

The Associated Press reported that Williams, whose driver’s license photo was wrongly flagged as a match to a suspect in a 2018 shoplifting case at a Shinola store, expressed relief at the settlement.

In a press briefing on Friday, Williams expressed optimism that the new safeguards would improve the facial recognition technology and photo lineup policies. However, he preferred that the police would not use the technology.

The settlement, announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the University of Michigan Law School, highlighted persistent concerns regarding the technology’s imperfections and its disproportionate impact on Black individuals, such as Williams.

According to the ACLU, Detroit police have agreed to new restrictions barring arrests solely based on facial recognition outcomes. The policy also prohibits arrests based on photo lineups derived from facial recognition searches. 

ACLU attorney Phil Mayor said police could use facial technology to generate leads and then conduct traditional investigative procedures to determine whether the identified person committed a crime before making an arrest.

Read Also: China Proposes Measures for Facial Recognition Use, Demands ‘Individual Consent’

Policy Reforms of the Detroit Police Department

In August, Chief of the Detroit Police Department James White introduced new policies on facial technology amid ongoing litigation, prompted by an incident where a pregnant woman was mistakenly charged with carjacking.

At the time, White emphasized that police must have additional evidence beyond facial recognition technology to establish a suspect’s capability, opportunity, and intent to commit a crime. 

Under the terms of the agreement with Williams, Detroit police will review cases involving facial recognition use from 2017 to 2023. They will notify prosecutors if investigations reveal that arrests were made without corroborating evidence.

As Detroit grapples with the aftermath of settling with Robert Williams, the effects extend beyond the city’s borders. This agreement signals a move towards accountability and changes in how facial recognition technology is used, highlighting the need to balance innovation with civil rights. 

Using this technology responsibly to pursue justice is crucial to prevent harm to individuals like Williams and promote fairness in communities.

Related Article: Meta Hit by a Lawsuit in Texas Due to its Facial Recognition Technology, Allegedly Violated the Users Privacy

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Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren will spend part of his summer going up against the best basketball players the United States has to offer.

Duren was one of 15 players named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team on Friday and will help prepare the senior team for the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris coming up at the end of July.

The team is selected by former Pistons forward and 18-year NBA veteran Grant Hill, who now serves as the managing director of USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team.

“As a former member of the USA Select Team, I know how important and fun this opportunity is for each of these players,” Hill said in a statement Friday. “There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the significant job of helping the 2024 USA Men’s National Team as they begin their journey to the Olympics. Each of these athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also develop the national team pipeline for the future.”

Duren played on the Select Team last year as well alongside his Pistons teammate, Cade Cunningham, who was a breakout star when practicing against the team that eventually played in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

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This year’s Select Team is headlined by graduating high school senior Cooper Flagg, who is set to head to Duke this fall. Former Pistons guard Langston Galloway was also picked to be on the team, as well as Nigel Hayes-Davis (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat), Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), Micah Potter (Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City Stars), Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics), Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets), Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic) and Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets).

The Select Team is led by Magic coach Jamahl Mosley and will feature assistants Jim Boylen (Indiana Pacers) and Matt Painter (Purdue).

Duren is coming off a sophomore campaign where he played in 61 games, averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists, but didn’t really take the step forward that the Pistons needed him to on the defensive end.

As the Pistons try to rebound from their historically bad 14-68 record last year, Duren will have a chance to sharpen his tools this summer against some of the world’s best players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and more.