'Shut it down now': Concerns over Lakeland's facial recognition cameras

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LAKELAND, Fla. - Controversy has erupted over the installation of new security cameras featuring facial recognition capabilities in downtown Lakeland, causing safety enhancements to collide with privacy concerns.

Julie Townsend, the Executive Director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), had previously informed FOX 13 that 14 new cameras would be placed on private properties to enhance the monitoring of public areas and act as a deterrent against criminal activities.

The cameras would not only be accessible to property owners but also to local law enforcement and the authority's "Clean and Safe Team," which planned to supervise the footage live and retain the data for a month. The detail that was omitted initially is the incorporation of facial recognition technology into these cameras.

Nate Freed Wessler, Deputy Director of ACLU's Speech Privacy and Technology Project, criticized the use of such technology for live tracking and identification as a threat to freedom in a democratic society.

In light of the backlash against similar technology in other municipalities, Wessler underscored the invasiveness of real-time facial recognition linked to a network of cameras, marking a serious overstep by Lakeland that warrants an immediate shutdown.

Contrasting with Wessler’s concerns, Townsend stated to FOX 13 earlier that privacy is not expected in public spaces and that the surveillance measures being implemented are standard practice, implying that law-abiding citizens should have no cause for concern.

However, Wessler expressed apprehension about the lack of checks and boundaries on the initiative, pointing out the potential for abuse and expansion without proper oversight.

The ACLU is presently conducting an investigation into the matter to determine if there will be future legal challenges or other forms of opposition.

Attempts to seek further comments from Townsend on the developing issue were met with silence on Monday, as there was no reply to FOX 13's inquiry for a statement.

This story has also been covered by FOX 13.