camera with facial recognition software

Portland Seeks to Become First City in Maine to Ban Facial Recognition Technology

The ban seeks to prohibit the use of all facial recognition technology by city officials and employees in Portland, Maine.

  • By Sherelle Black
  • Nov 18, 2019

Portland, Maine is looking to join Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland, California in banning facial recognition technology.

City council members of Maine’s largest city met Monday to consider a proposal that would ban the technology.

“Concerns about loss of privacy and civil rights matters have arisen with the advent of facial recognition technology,” the order read in the agenda for Monday night’s meeting. 

If approved, Portland would become the first city in Maine to ban facial recognition technology.

San Francisco was the first city in the nation to ban the technology back in May.

There would be “no exceptions.” The ban would include the city’s law enforcement officers as well, reported News Center Maine.

It also includes identification tools used by city employees, reported WGME.


About the Author

Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

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