City of Somerville passes ban on facial recognition technology

The city of Somerville has voted to ban the use of facial recognition technology by police and other city departments.

The Somerville City Council on Thursday voted 11-0 to bar the technology that critics say invades privacy and can often be wrong.

Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, the sponsor of the measure, said its passage is a "reminder that we are in charge of our own society."

The measure now goes to Mayor Joseph Curtatone, who has said he supports it.

Ewen-Campen worked on the issue with the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.

Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU, says Somerville is the first East Coast city to prohibit government use of the technology.

Last month, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to ban the technology.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group