***Thanks to Indivisible Plus WA for the following action***
Facial recognition technology poses unprecedented civil liberties, equity, and privacy concerns. It is highly inaccurate, particularly when analyzing people of color, women, youth, and trans and gender non-conforming individuals, and even when accurate, invades privacy and fuels discriminatory surveillance. Researchers compare it to plutonium: so toxic that most uses need to be prohibited. Cities including Portland, Boston, and San Francisco have banned government use of facial recognition technology.
Now King County is on the path to being the first county to pass a ban on government use of this flawed technology! The King County Council Committee of the Whole voted 8-0 to advance Ordinance 2021-0091, and the final vote is expected on June 2, so it’s a great time to thank the councilmembers for their vote – and ask them to pass the ordinance unanimously.
ACTION: Thank King County Council for Banning Facial Recognition
Click here to find your Councilmember and their phone number: https://kingcounty.gov/council/councilmembers/find_district.aspx
Or send an email to the Council: [email protected]
Script:
“Thank you for your May 19 Committee of the Whole vote to advance an ordinance banning county governmental use of facial recognition technology. Please continue to support Ordinance 2021-0091 when it comes before the Council for the final vote. This technology poses unprecedented civil liberties, equity, and privacy concerns, so banning governmental use protects King County residents and visitors.”
Background:
https://signon-acluofwashington.nationbuilder.com/king_county_frt_ordinance
