Facial recognition audit logs/usage statistics (Los Angeles Police Department)
| Tracking # |
20-3444 |
| Multi Request | Facial recognition audit logs/usage statistics |
| Submitted | June 3, 2020 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1) Copies of all user guides, handbooks, technical manuals, or comparable documents in the department's possession regarding department employee use of facial recognition system(s). These systems are commonly provided by vendors including, but not limited to, NEC, Dataworks Plus, Clearview AI, Cognitec, and others. The entirety of this request should be construed to include facial recognition systems provided by commercial vendors or developed internally.
2) Copies of all audit logs for the department's facial recognition system from Jan. 1, 2020 until the date this request is processed. Facial recognition vendors commonly include daily, weekly, or monthly audit log capabilities in their products and the U.S. Department of Justice recommends that all law enforcement agencies maintain audit logs for facial recognition systems (see: https://it.ojp.gov/GIST/1204/Face-Recognition-Policy-Development-Template-For-Use-In-Criminal-Intelligence-and-Investigative-Activities).
3) All reports detailing aggregated usage/transaction statistics for the department's facial recognition system from May 1, 2020 until the date this request is processed. Commercial facial recognition systems include the ability to easily view these daily, weekly, or monthly aggregate reports, which often detail the number of queries per day, number of daily users, number of photographs/facial templates uploaded to the database, etc. If the department's facial recognition system provides options for the time period covered in the aggregate usage or transaction statistics, I ask that you provide daily reports (rather than hourly, weekly, monthly, etc.)
4) Any documents (this includes screenshots of program dashboards) detailing the number of photographs or facial templates included in the database linked to the department's facial recognition system as of the date this request is processed.
I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist (examples of my recent work can be found at toddfeathers.com) and I intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest and not for any commercial purpose.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
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Hi there
Your first City of Los Angeles record request (request number #20-3444) has been submitted.
It is currently unpublished and is not available for the general public to view.
Request #20-3444.
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
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Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
The Department continues to process CPRA requests as they come in during the COVID-19 public health crisis, and will endeavor to do so in a timely manner. While the Department will be making every effort to comply with its statutory obligations, due to the COVID-19 crisis and the City and Department's efforts to tackle its effects, the actual production of records responsive to your request (if any) may be delayed if Department resources are needed to perform critical functions or are constrained due to the pandemic. The Department greatly appreciates your patience during this difficult time, as the entire community and nation deals with this unusual and serious situation. During this crisis, the Department would also ask that requesters consider postponing the submission of any requests that can wait until after the immediate crisis has abated.
If you have any questions, please respond to this e-mail.
Respectfully,
LAPD Discovery Section, CPRA Unit
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
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Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
I have reviewed your California Public Records Act request.
Please be advised that, pursuant to California Government Code Section 6253(c), I have found that “unusual circumstances” exist with respect to the request due to the need to search for, collect, and review the requested records from other Department entities which are separate from the office processing the request. Therefore, my staff will require the statutory fourteen days extension of time in which to respond. A determination concerning your request will be made as soon as possible.
If you have any questions regarding this correspondence, simply respond to this email.
Respectfully,
LAPD Discovery Section CPRA Unit
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
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Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable. Thank you for your continued patience.
Respectfully,
LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
************************************************************************
Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable. Thank you for your continued patience.
Respectfully,
LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
************************************************************************
Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable. Thank you for your continued patience.
Respectfully,
LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
************************************************************************
Hi there
A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-3444:
Dear Requester:
Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable. Thank you for your continued patience.
Respectfully,
LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
From: Los Angeles Police Department
City of Los Angeles
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Hi there
Record request #20-3444 has been closed and published. The closure reason supplied was:
Dear Requester:
We reviewed your request for:
"1) Copies of all user guides, handbooks, technical manuals, or comparable documents in the department's possession regarding department employee use of facial recognition system(s). These systems are commonly provided by vendors including, but not limited to, NEC, Dataworks Plus, Clearview AI, Cognitec, and others. The entirety of this request should be construed to include facial recognition systems provided by commercial vendors or developed internally.
2) Copies of all audit logs for the department's facial recognition system from Jan. 1, 2020 until the date this request is processed. Facial recognition vendors commonly include daily, weekly, or monthly audit log capabilities in their products and the U.S. Department of Justice recommends that all law enforcement agencies maintain audit logs for facial recognition systems (see: https://it.ojp.gov/GIST/1204/Face-Recognition-Policy-Development-Template-For-Use-In-Criminal-Intelligence-and-Investigative-Activities).
3) All reports detailing aggregated usage/transaction statistics for the department's facial recognition system from May 1, 2020 until the date this request is processed. Commercial facial recognition systems include the ability to easily view these daily, weekly, or monthly aggregate reports, which often detail the number of queries per day, number of daily users, number of photographs/facial templates uploaded to the database, etc. If the department's facial recognition system provides options for the time period covered in the aggregate usage or transaction statistics, I ask that you provide daily reports (rather than hourly, weekly, monthly, etc.)
4) Any documents (this includes screenshots of program dashboards) detailing the number of photographs or facial templates included in the database linked to the department's facial recognition system as of the date this request is processed." (sic)
Your request was made under the California Public Records Act (the Act). The Department is cognizant of its responsibilities under the Act. It recognizes the statutory scheme was enacted to maximize citizen access to the workings of government. The Act does not mandate disclosure of all documents within the government’s possession. Rather, by specific exemption and reference to other statutes, the Act recognizes that there are boundaries where the public’s right to access must be balanced against such weighty considerations as the right of privacy, a right of constitutional dimension under California Constitution, Article 1, Section 1. The law also exempts from disclosure records that are privileged or confidential or otherwise exempt under either express provisions of the Act or pursuant to applicable federal or state law, per California Government Code Sections 6254(b); 6254(c); 6254(f); 6254(k); and 6255.
A thorough search was conducted and the Department has no responsive records. The only system utilized by Department employees which incorporates any type of facial recognition technology is the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System (LACRIS). The LACRIS is managed and maintained by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). LAPD employees who utilize the system adhere to policies and procedures administered by LACRIS. If you have further questions about LACRIS, you may wish to visit their website at https://lacris.org/.
If you have any questions, please respond to this email.
Respectfully,
LAPD Discovery Section, CPRA Unit
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>
Files
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