San Francisco violated its facial recognition ban. So we sued.

SECURE JUSTICE vs. THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco has been a baddy. Not only have the police repeatedly violated the groundbreaking facial recognition ban, they’ve also refused to submit 42 surveillance technology use policies for pre-existing equipment as required, for four years. Many of the annual reports submitted by its city and county departments are noncompliant (or outright missing) as well, making a mockery of oversight.

“It is unlawful for a department to obtain, retain, access or use Facial Recognition Technology…or any information obtained from Facial Recognition Technology, from city or non-city entities…” One would think such simple language would not be confusing, but the San Francisco Police Department appears to have treated it as a mere suggestion, with double digit violations (that we know of).

SFPD has also taken the position that submitting use policies for pre-existing technology is optional, having identified 42 surveillance technologies in its inventory but taking no action to comply with the ordinance by going through the vetting process.

Meanwhile, the annual reports provide such illuminating efficacy data (mandated) as “The technology has been used according to policy”, while another department simply answered “Yes.”

Read our lawsuit here.