Hamden Bans Facial Recognition Technology In Town

HAMDEN, CT — The Hamden Legislative Council this week unanimously approved an ordinance that bans the use of facial recognition software by government agencies in town, according to the New Haven Independent.

The bipartisan bill was first introduced by Council members Brad Macdowall and Austin Cesare last month.

The text of the bill states facial recognition technology "poses unique and significant civil rights and civil liberties threats to the residents and visitors of the Town of Hamden."

The Independent reported that the bill was approved with one minor edit to its original language and now states the ordinance bars the town or any Hamden official “acting in their official capacity” from obtaining, retaining, accessing or using any facial recognition system or information obtained from facial recognition systems.

The New Haven Register and Buzzfeed News previously reported that the Hamden Police Department have trialed a facial recognition tool by Clearview AI. Police officials told the New Haven Register they do not currently use facial recognition technology.

Read more at the New Haven Independent here.