Rashida Tlaib tells police chief to only use black facial recognition analysts

A Democratic congresswoman and member of the self-titled "Squad" of progressive Washington newcomers told a police chief he should only employ African-American facial recognition analysts as others think they "all look the same".

Rashida Tlaib clashed with her local police chief during an “often tense” meeting with the city’s facial recognition team after the two previously clashed over the technology in a public Twitter debate.

The progressive Michigan newcomer and prominent Trump critic, who was elected to Congress during the 2018 midterms, visited Detroit’s Real Time Crime centre this week and urged the city’s police chief, James Craig, to only employ facial recognition analysts who are African-American, according to The Detroit News.

“Analysts need to be African Americans, not people that are not,” Ms Tlaib reportedly told the police chief. “I think non-African Americans think African Americans all look the same.”

She went on to say the issue is one that reaches the halls of Congress, adding: “I’ve seen it even on the House floor: People calling Elijah Cummings 'John Lewis,' and John Lewis 'Elijah Cummings,' and they’re totally different people.”

Mr Craig, who is himself African-American, invited Ms Tlaib to tour the facial recognition facilities after she blasted the city’s use of the technology as “bullsh**t”. He reportedly responded to her suggestion that he only use black staff to analyse facial recognition data by saying he trusted “people who are trained, regardless of race; regardless of gender”.

“It’s all about the training,” he added, according to the local paper.

“I know,” Ms Tlaib said, “but it does make a huge difference with the analysts.”

A spokesperson told The Detroit News shortly after the tour that the congresswoman was attempting to address the issue of misidentification when it comes to police using facial recognition software to issue warrants and make arrests.

Studies have shown people using facial recognition software are more likely to accurately identify people of their own race.

Denzel McCampbell, a spokesperson for Ms Tlaib, told the newspaper “Detroit has a black population of more than 80 per cent” and “that is where her basis came from and what she was trying to convey when it comes to accurate identification”.

Videos from within the facilities during Ms Tlaib’s tour shows the Democrat repeatedly confronting the police chief over the issue.

Ms Tlaib is part of a self-titled “Squad” of Democratic congresswoman - along with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley - who have gained prominence for their progressive policy positions and outspoken nature on social media.

She also called out the Detroit police department over its use of facial recognition software on Twitter in late August, writing: “You should probably rethink this whole facial recognition bullsh**t”.

The city responded: “Before you criticise the software, come to our Real Time Crime Centre to see how we [Detroit Police] responsibly use it in efforts to identify criminals involved in violent crimes.”

The congresswoman later agreed to the visit, warning that “residents are very concerned” about the use of the software within the police department and she would be addressing it at her meeting with the police chief.

In August Ms Tlaib and Ms Omar were barred from visiting Israel after Mr Trump encouraged the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block their entry. Mr Netanyahu cited their support for boycotts of Israel. Ms Tlaib was given permission to visit her grandmother in the West Bank on condition that she did not support boycotts while there, an offer she refused.