Facial Recognition Systems (Portland Police Bureau)

RE: Police General Records Request of August 23, 2018 Reference # S077077-082318
Dear Chris ,
The City received a Public Records Request from you on August 23, 2018 for the following: "To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records from your office for the period of January 1, 2015 to the date of this letter:1. The number and types of Facial Recognition software licenses or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment in place with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Please specify if software has been purchased or if services are performed by outside contractors for the PPB. Please include pilot or testing programs within the scope of this request.2. Any documents or correspondence during the period encompassing this request regarding possible or planned acquisition of Facial Recognition software packages, Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, or service agreements.3. Any existing or proposed policies regarding the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, including protocols, training documents, data storage procedures, data sharing policies, and prohibited activities. Please also include the legal standard (e.g. probable cause, court order, relevance, consent), if any, that is required before using this technology.4. Any current or past litigation involving or referencing the PPB related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.5. Reports to any oversight bodies related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.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 be 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.Sincerely,Chris Bushick"
You have requested a fee waiver from the City of Portland for the fees associated with your public records request.  The City requests the following information to evaluate your fee waiver request:
1) How do you or your organization intend to use the information?  (Please answer regarding the specific information requested as opposed to speaking generally regarding information on the general topic requested);
2) How will the information benefit the wider public?  (Please explain how this specific information assists the public given the information already provided to the public on this topic);
3) How do you or your organization intend to disseminate the information to the wider public?
Without responses to all 3 of these questions it may be difficult, or even impossible, to assess whether the requested disclosure is in the public interest because it will primarily benefit the public.
Please also bear in mind that the Bureau providing the records must weigh the public's interest in disclosure against the cost to the public of fulfilling the request without reimbursement.  As part of that balancing of interests, the City may consider the volume of the records requested.  Please discuss whether a more narrowly tailored, and thus less expensive, request could equally meet the public interest.
Sincerely,

PPB Queue
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Dear Chris :
The City of Portland acknowledges receipt of your Public Records Request.  Your request was received in this office on August 23, 2018 and given the reference number S077077-082318 for tracking purposes.
Record Requested:  To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records from your office for the period of January 1, 2015 to the date of this letter:1. The number and types of Facial Recognition software licenses or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment in place with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Please specify if software has been purchased or if services are performed by outside contractors for the PPB. Please include pilot or testing programs within the scope of this request.2. Any documents or correspondence during the period encompassing this request regarding possible or planned acquisition of Facial Recognition software packages, Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, or service agreements.3. Any existing or proposed policies regarding the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, including protocols, training documents, data storage procedures, data sharing policies, and prohibited activities. Please also include the legal standard (e.g. probable cause, court order, relevance, consent), if any, that is required before using this technology.4. Any current or past litigation involving or referencing the PPB related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.5. Reports to any oversight bodies related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.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 be 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.Sincerely,Chris Bushick

At this time, the City is uncertain whether it is the custodian of the requested record.  The City will review your request to determine if it has responsive records.  The City will then gather an estimate of the costs to provide copies of requested public records for which the City does not claim an exemption from disclosure.  The City is permitted to charge its actual costs to provide records.  Fees include research time to locate and analyze the requested records, even if no records are located or if the requested records are determined to be exempt from disclosure.
Please be advised that a pre-payment from you may be required.  If a pre-payment is required, you will receive a separate notice with instructions.  You may click here to access the payments page. (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/66961?qaframe=CustomerIssues.aspx)
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below.  Thank you for using the Portland Public Records Request Center.
Please note that the Police Bureau is currently experiencing a significant backlog of public records requests (both electronic and hardcopy requests).  Please expect up to 6 weeks before a response is received concerning your public records request.  For status updates concerning your public records request please refer to the Portland Public Records Request Center via the link below.  Thank you for your patience. To monitor the progress or update your request click here:
Portland Public Records Request Center (https://PORTLANDOR.mycusthelp.com/WEBAPP/_rs/RequestEdit.aspx?rid=77077&coid=)

If you have already made your payment, thank you, please disregard this message.

RE:  Police General Records Request of August 23, 2018 Reference#S077077-082318

Dear Chris ,

This City received a Public Records Request from you on August 23, 2018 for the following:

In order to begin processing this request a pre-payment must be made*.  Please log in to the Portland Public Records Request Center (copy and right click this link to open it in your browser) and make a payment on this request. (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/prr)
You may pay by electronic check or credit card by going to "My Public Records Request Center" and select "View My Payments".  Then scroll to find an invoice in the status of "payment pending" and select "Make Payment".  Follow the screen prompts to make a payment.  Alternatively, you may mail a check made payable to "The City of Portland".  Please be sure and provide the Record Request Reference number ( S077077-082318) on your check and mail it to:

Portland Police BureauRecords Division 1111 SW 2nd Avenue, Room 1126
Portland, OR  97204
*Please note that you will need to disable your pop-up blocker on your browser's settings in order to make an online payment.

*Please see this Answer for more information: A006257-010816 (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/66961?qaframe=AnswerDetail.aspx%3Finc%3D6257)

Sincerely,

Police Bureau
City of Portland

Dear Chris ,
The City received a Public Records Request from you on August 23, 2018 for the following: "To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records from your office for the period of January 1, 2015 to the date of this letter:
1. The number and types of Facial Recognition software licenses or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment in place with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Please specify if software has been purchased or if services are performed by outside contractors for the PPB. Please include pilot or testing programs within the scope of this request.
2. Any documents or correspondence during the period encompassing this request regarding possible or planned acquisition of Facial Recognition software packages, Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, or service agreements.
3. Any existing or proposed policies regarding the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment, including protocols, training documents, data storage procedures, data sharing policies, and prohibited activities. Please also include the legal standard (e.g. probable cause, court order, relevance, consent), if any, that is required before using this technology.
4. Any current or past litigation involving or referencing the PPB related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.
5. Reports to any oversight bodies related to the use of Facial Recognition software or Facial Recognition-enabled equipment.
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 be 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.
Sincerely,
Chris Bushick

Please be advised that there are no records responsive to your request. The Portland Police Bureau has not purchased nor does it maintain facial recognition software or data.
The City now considers your request fulfilled and it will be closed.

Sincerely,
PUBLIC RECORDS UNIT