The Fight to Stop Face Recognition Technology
![Facial recognition software scanning a crowd.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/FRhero-2800x1400-1.jpg)
The Fight to Stop Face Recognition Technology
Face recognition surveillance presents an unprecedented threat to our privacy and civil liberties. It gives governments, companies, and individuals the power to spy on us wherever we go — tracking our faces at protests, political rallies, places of worship, and more. The ACLU is taking to the courts, streets, legislatures, city councils, and even corporate boardrooms to defend our rights against the growing dangers of this unregulated surveillance technology.
Last updated on June 7, 2023
Arrested Because the 'Computer Got it Wrong'
![Robert Williams and his family.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/FR-Wrongful-Arrest-Video-YT-Thumb-2278x1134-1.jpg)
Robert Williams, a Black man living in Michigan, was handcuffed and hauled away by Detroit police in front of his wife and young girls because of a false face recognition match. Even though he was locked up for 30 hours despite being innocent, he considers himself lucky. As a Black man, he knows the consequences of a false match and police arrest could have been deadly.
What You Can Do
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies![Stop Face Surveillance Technologies](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/FRaction600x600-600x600.jpg)
Stop Face Surveillance Technologies
Stop Face Surveillance TechnologiesFeatured Stories
![People standing at a crosswalk with face recognition software boxes superimposed over their faces.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/02/WEB21-Face-Recognition-Crosswalk-Standard-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
Biden Must Halt Face Recognition Technology to Advance Racial Equity
Face recognition is a threat to not only our constitutional rights, but to people of color and other marginalized groups who are more likely to be misidentified — and bear the consequences.
Biden Must Halt Face Recognition Technology to Advance Racial Equity![Facial recognition software scanning a face.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/04/WEB21-Face-Recognition-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
The Computer Got it Wrong: Why We’re Taking the Detroit Police to Court Over a Faulty Face Recognition 'Match'
Face recognition technology turns everybody into a suspect and threatens our civil rights.
The Computer Got it Wrong: Why We’re Taking the Detroit Police to Court Over a Faulty Face Recognition 'Match'![A screenshot of the Black Lives Matter banner on the Amazon homepage](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/05/Web21-Amazon_Blog-Wordpress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
When We Fight, We Win: Victories in the Fight Against Face Surveillance Keep Piling Up
The extension of Amazon's moratorium is a major win for racial justice, curbing police powers, and privacy — but we won’t stop fighting until all people are protected.
When We Fight, We Win: Victories in the Fight Against Face Surveillance Keep Piling Up![Close up of a camera lens.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/08/WEB20-Camera-Lens-BlogImage-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
Stop the Police Surveillance State Too
We can't let cash-strapped police departments shift from racist human policing to racist technology-driven policing.
Stop the Police Surveillance State Too![Robert Williams](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/WEB20-Robert-Williams-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
Wrongfully Arrested Because Face Recognition Can’t Tell Black People Apart
It is now more urgent than ever for our lawmakers to stop law enforcement use of face recognition technology.
Wrongfully Arrested Because Face Recognition Can’t Tell Black People Apart![Facial recognition software scanning a crowd.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/WEB20-Facial-Recognition-Software-Scanning-Crowd-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
The Untold Number of People Implicated in Crimes They Didn’t Commit Because of Face Recognition
The sheer scope of police face recognition use in this country means that people have almost certainly been — and will continue to be — misidentified, if not arrested and charged for crimes they didn’t commit.
The Untold Number of People Implicated in Crimes They Didn’t Commit Because of Face Recognition![Facial scan over black woman's face to assess identification.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/Microsoft-Face-Recognition-400x266.jpg)
Microsoft Says it Supports Racial Justice. Will it Refuse to Power Discriminatory Police Surveillance?
If companies believe that Black Lives Matter, the least they can do is refuse to perpetuate and profit off our racist criminal justice system.
Microsoft Says it Supports Racial Justice. Will it Refuse to Power Discriminatory Police Surveillance?![Facial recognition software.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/WEB20-Facial-Recognition-Software-Overlay-BlogImage-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist?
If police are authorized to deploy invasive face surveillance technologies against our communities, these technologies will unquestionably be used to target Black and Brown people merely for existing.
How is Face Recognition Surveillance Technology Racist?![Clearview AI facial recognition software logo on the glowing screen and blurred faces from social media on the background](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/05/Clearview-AI-Header-Image-400x266.jpg)
We’re Taking Clearview AI to Court to End its Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance Activities
The company’s surveillance activities are a threat to privacy, safety, and security.
We’re Taking Clearview AI to Court to End its Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance Activities![A passenger using a facial recognition kiosk in the background with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer watching in the foreground.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/02/WEB20-Airport-Facial-Recognition-Kiosk-WordPress-1110x740-400x266.jpg)
The Government's Nightmare Vision for Face Recognition at Airports and Beyond
A CBP airport face recognition program is poised to expand into American life.
The Government's Nightmare Vision for Face Recognition at Airports and Beyond![A face recognition camera at customs entry point at the Orlando International Airport in Florida. There has been increased interest in the use of this artificial intelligence system from government agencies and businesses.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/01/face-recognition_Blog-Image-400x266.jpg)
2019 Proved We Can Stop Face Recognition Surveillance
Congress can — and must — make 2020 the year we rein this technology in once and for all.
2019 Proved We Can Stop Face Recognition Surveillance![A CBP officer scanning a passport](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/12/WEB19-CBP-Biometric-Facial-RecognitionBlogImage-WordPress-1110x740-400x266.jpg)
A Border Officer Told Me I Couldn’t Opt Out of the Face Recognition Scan. They Were Wrong.
If I, carrying all the privilege of a white ACLU lawyer, could not opt-out of the invasive technology, what chance do other travelers — and particularly people of color — have to assert their rights?
A Border Officer Told Me I Couldn’t Opt Out of the Face Recognition Scan. They Were Wrong.![Facial recognition grid](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/10/WEB19-Public-Facial-Recognition-WordPress-1110x740-400x266.jpg)
The FBI is Tracking Our Faces in Secret. We’re Suing.
There can be no accountability if there is no transparency.
The FBI is Tracking Our Faces in Secret. We’re Suing.![Police body camera](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-police-body-cam-1160x768-400x266.jpg)
California Just Blocked Police Body Cam Use of Face Recognition
California Just Blocked Police Body Cam Use of Face Recognition![View of people from afar with human recognition markers around them](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-human-recognition-1160x768-400x266.jpg)
The FBI Has Access to Over 640 Million Photos of Us Through Its Facial Recognition Database
The FBI Has Access to Over 640 Million Photos of Us Through Its Facial Recognition Database![Surveillance Camera](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-surveillancecamera-1160x768-400x266.jpg)
Florida Is Using Facial Recognition to Convict People Without Giving Them a Chance to Challenge the Tech
Florida Is Using Facial Recognition to Convict People Without Giving Them a Chance to Challenge the Tech![Surveillance cameras](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web18-surveillancecameras-1160x768-400x266.jpg)
Amazon Teams Up With Government to Deploy Dangerous New Facial Recognition Technology
Amazon Teams Up With Government to Deploy Dangerous New Facial Recognition Technology![A mockup image of how a computer scans a human face for facial recognition](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/02/web20-clearviewAIfacerecog-blogimage-wordpress-1110x740-400x266.jpg)
Hey Clearview, Your Misleading PR Campaign Doesn’t Make Your Face Surveillance Product Any Less Dystopian
Accurate or not, Clearview's face surveillance technology in law enforcement hands will end privacy as we know it.
Hey Clearview, Your Misleading PR Campaign Doesn’t Make Your Face Surveillance Product Any Less Dystopian![Amazon Doorbell](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web18-amazondoorbell-1160x768-400x266.jpg)
Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door
Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door![Members of Congress](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/featured_image-400x266.jpg)
Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members of Congress With Mugshots
Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members of Congress With MugshotsOur work to stop the spread of face surveillance
![Localities that have stopped law enforcement use of face recognition.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/Map-Face-Recog-2800x1400-1.jpg)
We’re leading the fight in legislatures nationwide to stop law enforcement use of face recognition.
Which companies sell face surveillance to police
![Tech company stances on selling face recognition technology to law enforcement.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/06/WEB20-FR-Scorecard-2800x1400-1.jpg)