Shumita Basu

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.

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.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. The leader of an organization set to distribute aid in Gaza has resigned. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by the U.S. and Israel, said it began operations on Monday, but its now former head, Jake Wood, stated that the outlined plan would be impossible to implement without compromising on basic humanitarian rules.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. The leader of an organization set to distribute aid in Gaza has resigned. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by the U.S. and Israel, said it began operations on Monday, but its now former head, Jake Wood, stated that the outlined plan would be impossible to implement without compromising on basic humanitarian rules.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. The leader of an organization set to distribute aid in Gaza has resigned. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by the U.S. and Israel, said it began operations on Monday, but its now former head, Jake Wood, stated that the outlined plan would be impossible to implement without compromising on basic humanitarian rules.

Humanitarian groups that have been working in Gaza, including the United Nations, have warned that this change to how aid is dispersed runs the risk of weaponizing the future of aid. This comes as Israel launched another wave of attacks over the weekend, with strikes hitting a school building where dozens of Palestinians sheltering inside were killed.

Humanitarian groups that have been working in Gaza, including the United Nations, have warned that this change to how aid is dispersed runs the risk of weaponizing the future of aid. This comes as Israel launched another wave of attacks over the weekend, with strikes hitting a school building where dozens of Palestinians sheltering inside were killed.

Humanitarian groups that have been working in Gaza, including the United Nations, have warned that this change to how aid is dispersed runs the risk of weaponizing the future of aid. This comes as Israel launched another wave of attacks over the weekend, with strikes hitting a school building where dozens of Palestinians sheltering inside were killed.