Shumita Basu

Let's turn now to an investigation from The Washington Post. Reporters learned that police in New Orleans were secretly monitoring people for two years using facial recognition cameras and software. Now, facial recognition software is something that police nationwide are increasingly using. Officers typically scan still images from surveillance cameras to support their search for suspects.

Let's turn now to an investigation from The Washington Post. Reporters learned that police in New Orleans were secretly monitoring people for two years using facial recognition cameras and software. Now, facial recognition software is something that police nationwide are increasingly using. Officers typically scan still images from surveillance cameras to support their search for suspects.

Let's turn now to an investigation from The Washington Post. Reporters learned that police in New Orleans were secretly monitoring people for two years using facial recognition cameras and software. Now, facial recognition software is something that police nationwide are increasingly using. Officers typically scan still images from surveillance cameras to support their search for suspects.

But The Post learned police in New Orleans had been taking this technology a step further.

But The Post learned police in New Orleans had been taking this technology a step further.

But The Post learned police in New Orleans had been taking this technology a step further.

Doug McMillan is a business and tech investigations reporter who broke this story with colleagues after filing public record requests for months.

Doug McMillan is a business and tech investigations reporter who broke this story with colleagues after filing public record requests for months.

Doug McMillan is a business and tech investigations reporter who broke this story with colleagues after filing public record requests for months.

If this facial recognition software detected a possible match in a list of crime suspects, officers would get a notification on their phones through an app.

If this facial recognition software detected a possible match in a list of crime suspects, officers would get a notification on their phones through an app.

If this facial recognition software detected a possible match in a list of crime suspects, officers would get a notification on their phones through an app.

Since early 2023, police have made dozens of arrests in New Orleans using this technology. But Macmillan learned it might violate city laws around how this type of tech can be used. For one, the Post learned that the company that manages the bulk of the cameras, Project NOLA, a nonprofit run by a former police officer, has no formal contract with the city.

Since early 2023, police have made dozens of arrests in New Orleans using this technology. But Macmillan learned it might violate city laws around how this type of tech can be used. For one, the Post learned that the company that manages the bulk of the cameras, Project NOLA, a nonprofit run by a former police officer, has no formal contract with the city.

Since early 2023, police have made dozens of arrests in New Orleans using this technology. But Macmillan learned it might violate city laws around how this type of tech can be used. For one, the Post learned that the company that manages the bulk of the cameras, Project NOLA, a nonprofit run by a former police officer, has no formal contract with the city.

The chief public defender for New Orleans told the Post that the lack of formal relationship means that Project NOLA is not required to share information about their suspect matches that could be evidence in a courtroom. Officers who were involved in many of the arrests that used this technology didn't disclose that fact in their police reports.

The chief public defender for New Orleans told the Post that the lack of formal relationship means that Project NOLA is not required to share information about their suspect matches that could be evidence in a courtroom. Officers who were involved in many of the arrests that used this technology didn't disclose that fact in their police reports.

The chief public defender for New Orleans told the Post that the lack of formal relationship means that Project NOLA is not required to share information about their suspect matches that could be evidence in a courtroom. Officers who were involved in many of the arrests that used this technology didn't disclose that fact in their police reports.

Following the Post's requests for records in reporting the story, the New Orleans Police Department at least partially paused the program back in April.

Following the Post's requests for records in reporting the story, the New Orleans Police Department at least partially paused the program back in April.