Tampa Eliminates Face-Recognition System; Citing Two-Year Failure

Associated Press ^ | 08-20-03

[Brian S]

Tampa Eliminates Face-Recognition System Tampa Police Eliminate Controversial Facial-Recognition System, Citing Two-Year Failure

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. Aug. 20 — Tampa police have scrapped their controversial security camera system that scanned city streets for criminals, citing its failure over two years to recognize anyone wanted by authorities.

The system was intended to recognize the facial characteristics of felons, sexual predators and runaway children by matching passers-by in Ybor City with a database of 30,000 mug shots.

"It's just proven not to have any benefit to us," Capt. Bob Guidara, a department spokesman, said Tuesday. The cameras have led only to arrests for such crimes as drug deals.

Tampa was the first city in the United States to install the permanent camera surveillance system along public streets and the technology was used during the 2001 Super Bowl.

Critics welcomed the end of the program.

"It's a relief," said Darlene Williams, chairwoman of the Greater Tampa Chapter of the ACLU. "Any time you have this sort of technology on public streets, you are subjecting people who come to Ybor to an electronic police lineup, without any kind of probable cause."

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Lazamataz]

Well, this is welcome news. The technology is not up to the claims, yet.

[Sam Cree]

This kind of stuff is very scary and "big brotherish."

Yet with the threat of terrorism, I sometimes wonder if we need it anyway, even though it seems dangerous to let government have a power or ability such as this.

[Sinner6]

The system was intended to recognize the facial characteristics of felons, sexual predators and runaway children by matching passers-by in Ybor City with a database of 30,000 mug shots.

Having dealt with similar systems I can say they shouln't have even tried. The technology I worked with was fairly advanced (for the field) and it still wasn't very good(8/10) on average. To do proper facial recongition you would need about 50 to 100 good pictures from various angles of the suspect to have a chance, 4 mugshots won't cut it.

[FreedomPoster]

Totally against anything like this. Especially unacceptable given the lack of control over our borders. If the gov't wanted to use something like this on incoming visitors, I have no problem, but using this internally is an issue.

[Joe Brower]

This is the best news I've heard all week. This was a Orwellian loser from the word go. Sometimes, just sometimes, common sense actually prevails.

[sam_paine]

Suuuuuuure they disabled it.!!

[Sam Cree]

"If the gov't wanted to use something like this on incoming visitors, I have no problem, but using this internally is an issue."

That makes sense and I instinctively agree. Although terrorists, once in, still need to be caught, especially if they are pursuing another "spectacular" event.

I notice that they caught some drug dealers, small time ones, I guess. I just read a book ("Smoke Screen") that claims much of the drug smuggling through Miami was protected by the CIA, because the smugglers were Cuban anti Castroites and were therefore protected. Have no idea if that's true, but makes you hate to give even more dangerous toys to enforcement agencies.

Many of the drug importers have been very dangerous folks, as a Miamian who has frequented the coastal waters out into the islands as well as the river, I've spent some time worrying about them. So, if it's true they were protected by government, thanks alot leo's.

Still the thought of a suitcase nuke or dirty bomb makes me wonder if we should let them have the stuff anyway.

[lawdude]

"...but using this internally is an issue."

And what is the issue?

[FreedomPoster]

I don't need a Big Brotherish system maintaining internal Control. Ever read 1984? Think it can't happen here?

Orwell was a prophet.

[Major_Risktaker]

DOMEWEAR IS HOT!

WEARCAM

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LONDON IS WIRED, 95% of the city.
Be on your best behaviour at all times!

[I still care]

I live near Tampa. When this was first started it was a big deal. And very upsetting to many of us that people just didn't seem to be bothered by it.


Many people's attitudes were, if you weren't a criminal why would it worry you.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[DustyMoment]

FINALLY!!! It was a creepy, bad idea from the outset and, from all reports I have seen where it was deployed, it was largely an expensive failure.

The question is, where do the taxpayers go to get the money back that was shelled out on this boondoggle?

[haywoodwebb]

I'm sure they'll scrap the software, . . .

. . . but the cameras will stay . . . !

[af_vet_rr]

This is the best news I've heard all week. This was a Orwellian loser from the word go. Sometimes, just sometimes, common sense actually prevails.

Unfortunately, money and the desire to monitor the people usually beat out common sense.

[af_vet_rr]

The question is, where do the taxpayers go to get the money back that was shelled out on this boondoggle?

You don't think you really have a say in where your money is wasted, do you? Most people won't care one way or the other, and so the same officials will keep getting elected. I've seen school districts, cities, counties, etc. waste lots of money and nobody was really held accountable, they would just turn around and issue more bonds or raise taxes or whatever.

[sam_paine]

. . but the cameras will stay . . . !

Eggsactly! Do you feel conditioned yet?

[haywoodwebb]

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City dumps facial-recognition program

But police say 36 surveillance cameras will stay put

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

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See, I told ya!

;-D

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