‘Analysts need to be African Americans’: Tlaib insists all facial recognition techs be black

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib recently visited the Real Time Crime Center after having tweeting “@detroitpolice You should probably rethink this whole facial recognition bulls**t” in August.

The Detroit Police responded by offering a tour of the Real Time Crime Center, so she should see how the technology was helping to apprehend criminals and prevent crime. “@RashidaTlaib Before you criticize the software, come to our Real Time Crime Center to see how we @detroitpolice responsibly use it in efforts to identify criminals involved in violent crimes. Let’s set a date.”

Appearing suspicious from the start, the liberal congresswoman began her visit by questioning the presence of the reporter from The Detroit News. “Who are you and why are you recording me?” she said, suggesting he might be using his footage for facial recognition.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig showed a skeptical Tlaib how the software worked, and where it required human intervention. He introduced her to Andrew, an African American facial recognition analyst, and attempted to explain how the technology and human supervision work together. Tlaib interrupted to talk about two committee hearings where she heard data that did not support what Craig was showing her. “See if you can get some of our money back until they fix it,” Tlaib said.

“No,” Craig responded firmly, before calmly continuing on his tour of the software and equipment.

“Analysts need to be African Americans,” Tlaib proclaimed as Craig told her a story about how a dangerous murder suspect was caught through the Real Time Crime Center. “Non-African Americans think African Americans all look the same,” she said before quipping that Democratic Reps. Elijah Cummings and John Lewis are often confused on the House floor.

“I trust people who are trained regardless of race and regardless of gender,” Craig said in response to Tlaib’s assertion. “It is about the training.”