maine capitol

Maine Legislators Working On Bill To Make Law Enforcement Use of Surveillance Tech More Transparent

Law enforcement in Maine have cited a 2013 law stating they are not required to disclose if they are using facial recognition or cellphone signal interceptors. Two lawmakers hope to change that.

Maine lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill that would change a state law used by police to state that they do not have to disclose use of surveillance technology, including facial recognition or cellphone signal interceptors.

Two Democratic legislators, Sen. Shenna Bellows and Rep. Charlotte Warren, told The Portland Press Herald that they are working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine on legislation that would demand more transparency on which technologies are being used by law enforcement across the state.

Previously, the Maine State Police have denied requests from newspapers, including the Maine Sunday Telegram, to confirm or deny which technologies they are deploying in communities. Maine is one of two states with a provision in state law that does not require police to disclose public records related to surveillance technology, according to the ACLU.

One issue facing the legislators taking on the issue is timing. The bill would need to earn special approval from a bipartisan panel to be included in the 2020 session, or else it will have to be put off until the start of the next session in 2021, according to the Press Herald.

“It’s unclear if legislative leadership will permit the bill to be introduced at this late date, but we heard widespread constituent concern when news hit that Maine is one of only two states that allows this level of secret surveillance,” Bellows, a former executive director of the ACLU of Maine, said.

The upcoming legislation comes as cities across the country, including in Maine, consider policies to regulate how law enforcement and government agencies can use facial recognition and other technologies on residents.

In Portland, Maine, City Councilor Pious Ali has proposed a ban on the use of facial recognition by police and city officials. A vote on the measure has been postponed twice and will be discussed again on June 15, the Press Herald reported.

Frank Clark, the chief of police in Portland, opposed the proposal, telling the council in a memo that he is an “advocate of taking advantage of contemporary 21st century technologies to drive better public safety outcomes.” He said that the department does not have immediate plans to acquire facial recognition technology.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.