Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is the newest state-of-the-art biometric technology. Phenotypic characteristics help machines identify a person's face for cyber- and physical-security reasons. Think about using Face ID to access your banking app or getting into your place of work. FRT is also used by law enforcement and the judicial system to match faces to suspected criminals and to determine prison sentences. Black individuals that are already disproportionally arrested and incarcerated are most negatively affected by false arrests, including the danger associated with police. This is because FRT is less likely to recognize and mislabel darker-skinned individuals and in many states law enforcement permits unregulated use of FRT. The acquisition of photo IDs and driver's licenses allow 117 million Americans to be unknowingly part of FBI databases. It becomes very easy for police to arrest anyone they think might fit a description, even though FRT can be largely inaccurate. 

Poet of code, Joy Buolamwini is already focusing on how algorithmic bias causes Black women's underrepresentation and misgendering in FRT, but more work needs to be done to regulate FRT on a government scale! 

Marginalized people are defeated by law everyday. Targeting companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM to discontinue selling FRT to law enforcement and gaining the attention of legislation is the most imperative way to help. If regulations aren't put in place, there's no telling how many more false incarcerations and murders by police will occur due to the abuse of FRT. 

Gender Shades Project by Joy Bualamwini