a simple waste of taxpayer money

[KG]

http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2003/08/20/Tampabay/Ybor_cameras_won_t_se.shtml


Ybor cameras won't seek what they never found
After two years of fruitless monitoring, Tampa is dropping facial-recognition software that looked for crooks. It never led to a single arrest.
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 20, 2003


TAMPA - In the end, everyone the secret cameras scanned turned out to be just another face in the crowd.

Two years after Tampa became the nation's first city to use facial-recognition software to search for wanted criminals, officials are dropping the program.

It led to zero arrests.

"I wouldn't consider it a failure," said police spokesman Joe Durkin. "You are always looking for new and efficient ways to provide the best service to the community. There's going to be ups and downs."

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment about the practice.

The city first toyed with the technology during the 2001 Super Bowl, when surveillance cameras monitored people entering Raymond James Stadium.

That led critics to dub the game, "Snooper Bowl." And although cameras picked up 19 "hits," or possible matches with wanted criminals, none were arrested.

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further proof that all the PATRIOT act and etc. won't keep us safe.

the only way to end global terrorism is to promote global socail justice.

[dfong63]

1. maybe not so simple

but suppose it had led to arrests, or even convictions. would it have been worth it? i mean worth the loss of privacy of innocent citizens, the general public? worth the risk of creating a police state?

the technology will improve. someday we'll have to confront this question.