Facial Recognition Systems (Baltimore Police Department)

Curtis Waltman filed this request with the Baltimore Police Department of Baltimore, MD.
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Curtis Waltman

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I hereby request the following records:

Facial recognition systems are increasingly utilized by law enforcement agencies. This allows officers to quickly identify persons of interest through the use of an extensive database and a tool such as FaceFirst.

I would like for this request:

-any contractual documents including purchase orders, delivery orders, bids, quotes, RFPs, responses to RFPs, invoices and contracts with facial recognition companies like FaceFirst Inc., Face Searcher by Allevate Limited, Face-VACS by Cognitec Systems GmbH, First Line Facial Recognition by Blue Line Technology, any products by Animetrics, SCRAM remote breath by Alcohol Monitoring Systems, or MegaMatcher by Neurotechnology. Other systems may also be used, such as the system developed by the FBI.

-any policies or guidelines about the use of facial recognition technology

-any grant applications or reports to any oversight bodies

-The total number of individuals who have been identified through the use of facial recognition systems over the last three years

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Curtis Waltman

From: Brooks, Wayne

Director Harder,

I sent you a draft response about public access to Citybuy, Open Baltimore, and going to the Bureau of Purchases for contract information for your comment.

This is a similar request. Please let me know what you can provide and how much staff time of compile and process.

Thank You

Wayne Brooks
Assistant to Legal Affairs
Baltimore Police Department
410 396 2395

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately. Thank you.

The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.

From: DCU

Mr. Waltma

Attached are BPD policies that concern facial recognition. All other current policies can be found at https://www.baltimorepolice.org/open-and-transparent#/four

Thank You

Wayne Brooks
Assistant to Legal Affairs
Baltimore Police Department
410 396 2395

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately. Thank you.

The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.

From: Curtis Waltman

Hi Mr. Brooks,

Can you clarify for me if any contracts or agreements for facial recognition software are being exempted or if this request is only partially completed? If they are being withheld, I would like the exact exemptions, please. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Curtis Waltman

From: DCU

Mr. Waltman,

“any contracts or agreements for facial recognition software”
The BPD’s Fiscal Section is still reviewing this part of the request. I can tell you that the neither the Homeland Security Section nor the I T Section is aware of recognition software being owned or leased by the BPD.

- The total number of individuals who have been identified through the use of facial recognition systems over the last three years
This Office has been advised that the BPD is not the Custodian of the records sought under your records request. BPD refers you to: the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) who administrators the application for the State of Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services tracks number of log-ins by Baltimore City Police Officers to the MIRS system, and can also explain how the system works. I would refer you to Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The BPD is not obligated to maintain a separate application or database that tracks the images submitted to the Maryland Image Repository System (MIRS). As such, the BPD is unable to provide a list of images submitted nor the results received.

Sincerely,

Wayne Brooks
Assistant to Legal Affairs
Baltimore Police Department
100 N Holiday St., Room 100,
Baltimore, Md. 21202
DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately. Thank you.

The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.

From: DCU

Mr. Waltman,

This is a supplement to my below response.

Attached re the reports provided to Representative Elijah Cummings and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform relating to the retention and use of facial recognition technology systems by the Baltimore Police Department.

Sincerely,

Wayne Brooks
Assistant to Legal Affairs
Baltimore Police Department
100 N Holiday St., Room 100,
Baltimore, Md. 21202
DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org>
MPIA request forms
http://law.baltimorecity.gov/office-legal-affairs-baltimore-police-department

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately. Thank you.

The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.

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