Mall Of America’s Facial Recognition Tech Sparks Racial Profiling Concerns

The Mall of America is facing backlash following the implementation of its new facial recognition technology. 

The use of the technology has raised privacy concerns among lawmakers, civil liberties advocates, and the general public.

Concerns Over Privacy and Misuse

Minnesota State Senators Eric Lucero (Republican) and Omar Fateh (Democrat) have united in urging the Mall of America to halt its facial recognition operations. 

“Public policy concerns surrounding privacy rights and facial recognition technologies have yet to be resolved, including the high risks of abuse, data breaches, identity theft, liability and accountability,” said Lucero in a statement.

“It is very clear the continued implementation of facial recognition technology should not move forward until concerns are addressed, including input from citizens, civil liberty and data practices advocates, and state and local government officials.”

Fateh added concerns about racial profiling and the potential for false arrests, referencing studies that show higher rates of misidentification among Black people and other people of color compared to white individuals.

Technology Aimed at Security Amid Gun-Related Incidents

The Mall of America introduced the technology at the end of June in response to several gun-related incidents in recent years. 

According to the mall’s FAQ page, the system isn’t intended to identify every visitor but to monitor for specific “persons of interest” (POIs). 

These include banned individuals, trespassers, threat actors, missing persons, or those in danger. 

The system’s algorithm, reportedly 99.3% accurate per the Department of Homeland Security, scans visitors’ faces against a database of POIs, deleting photos if no match is found.

The Debate Over Facial Recognition Technology

Despite assurances from the mall and the software’s developers about its limited scope and rigorous testing, the use of facial recognition technology remains controversial. 

Critics argue that the technology poses significant privacy risks and potential for abuse. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocates have highlighted the disproportionate impact on communities of color, exacerbating fears of racial bias and privacy invasion.

A spokesperson for the Mall of America defended the technology, stating that it strictly targets individuals identified as POIs and does not store data on other visitors, according to Fast Company.

“POIs are individuals who are currently on a trespass at Mall of America, those who may be a threat to our environment, persons identified to us by law enforcement, or individuals who are missing or may be in danger,” the spokesperson said.

“Our facial recognition technology does not identify or store facial data for anyone who is not a POI. Therefore, we do not know the identity of any shopper unless they match a photo of a POI.”

Feature Image Credit: Eric Lucero and Omar Fateh