After nearly four hours of heated debate, the New Orleans City Council voted to reinstate the use of facial recognition technology.
The change comes two years after they threw out the same policy.
The New Orleans Council spent much of the day, discussing the use of anti-crime surveillance cameras as crime runs rampant. Council members were assured that peer-reviewed safeguards were now in place to make sure that surveillance technology is only used to fight nearly 40 serious crimes.
In spite of assurances, many worried that civil liberties will be violated.
Police Chief Shaun Ferguson made it clear that the use of surveillance technology could be a key part of solving crime, but he could not guarantee that it would reduce the city’s high murder rate.
The measure passed on a four to two vote.
