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Milwaukee County Sheriff Rejects Facial Recognition Plan After Public Input

Sheriff Denita R. Ball said community input drove the choice to prioritize public trust.

Overview

  • The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office announced Friday it will not implement facial recognition technology.
  • Ball said discussions with local advocates highlighted concerns over data access and perception, stressing the move is not a retreat from innovation.
  • The agency had previously signed an intent agreement with Biometrica in August 2025 before reassessing the plan.
  • Facial recognition creates a digital faceprint to generate investigative leads, and any match would still require separate probable cause for arrests or warrants.
  • Separately, the Milwaukee Police Department issued a ban on the technology earlier this month following public outcry.