A database containing 1000’s of NYPD officers’ data has added a brand new facial recognition instrument — which might be “weaponized” by anti-cop activists to harass the Best, critics mentioned.
The web site, 50-a.org, added a function this month enabling the general public to add photographs of cops to determine their identify, project within the division, and different publicly sourced info together with complaints and disciplinary data.
Retired NYPD Lt. John Macari, who sounded the alarm on X over the brand new photo-search choice, warned cop haters will doubtless abuse the newfound ease for acquiring NYPD officers’ private info by way of photograph.
“We’ve examples the place anti-police advocates or anti-police agitators have used this publicly sourced info to present up at officers’ properties,” Macari informed The Publish.
The Police Benevolent Affiliation, the union repping 21,000 cops, despatched a cease-and-desist letter to the web site demanding it take down the brand new photo-upload instrument, in accordance with a replica of the letter.
“These activists are in opposition to any form of know-how that helps catch criminals, however they’ll use those self same instruments to focus on cops,” PBA President Patrick Hendry mentioned. “It’s hypocrisy at our Best.”
The brand new instrument additionally may result in “frivolous complaints” if the search instrument misidentifies officers primarily based on the uploaded photographs, Macari warned.
“I [previously] acquired a few complaints simply primarily based upon the truth that I used to be bald and I’ve tattoos, and I wasn’t even on the scene,” the previous cop mentioned.
A consultant for 50-a.org, whose identify refers back to the repealed 1976 legislation that conceals police misconduct data from the general public, didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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