The Edmonton Police Service revealed on Tuesday that it will be the first law enforcement agency globally to utilize a facial-recognition-enabled body camera system developed by Axon Enterprise, an Arizona-based company. Acting Supt. Kurt Martin emphasized during a press briefing that this technology is intended to complement, not replace, human investigative efforts. He clarified that any identifications made by the software will be verified by trained officers proficient in facial recognition.
The primary objective of integrating this technology is to enhance public and officer safety while upholding privacy standards. The partnership with Axon is independent of a provincial mandate requiring body cameras for all police officers in Alberta by 2023, with EPS initiating the implementation of bodycams for its members in 2024.
Commencing tomorrow, up to 50 Edmonton police officers equipped with body cameras will trial Axon’s facial-recognition-enabled devices throughout the remainder of the month. This trial phase aims to assess the feasibility and functionality of facial recognition technology within policing operations.
During field operations, the facial-recognition system on the body cameras will remain inactive until activated by officers for specific investigations or enforcement activities. When in operation, the technology will run in “silent mode,” automatically scanning faces within a four-meter range of the camera. Detected facial data will be promptly compared with the EPS database for matches related to outstanding warrants and officer safety alerts. Unmatched data will be promptly discarded to uphold privacy standards.
This initiative seeks to streamline the process of identifying individuals within the criminal justice system, particularly those with outstanding warrants for serious offenses such as murder, aggravated assault, and robbery. It aligns with the responsibility of law enforcement to execute warrants promptly to ensure that individuals facing criminal charges receive timely due process in accordance with their Charter rights and court-mandated timelines.