Milwaukee County Takes Stand on Facial Recognition Technology as Debate Rages On

The Brief

On Thursday, June 26, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution addressing the possible implementation of facial recognition technology.
The supervisors gave unanimous approval for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office to collaborate with partners and community stakeholders in developing a strategy to oversee the possible implementation of this technology.
The resolution requires a definitive recommendation by May 2026 at the latest.

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County is moving forward with measures aimed at balancing public safety concerns with constitutional rights.

What we know

On Thursday, June 26, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution concerning the possible implementation of facial recognition technology. The board members voted unanimously to direct the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office to collaborate with various partners and community stakeholders in developing regulations for the potential deployment of this technology.

Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez is leading the initiative.

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Facial recognition tech has shown to have a disproportionate impact on communities of color and young women," he stated. "Increased use of this technology allows individuals to be unfairly labeled as criminals for exercising their First Amendment rights. This isn’t just a liberal or conservative issue; it’s a concern for everyone.

He's similarly concerned about immigration enforcement agents utilizing this technology.

Miguel Martinez stated, 'There are numerous demonstrations and activities within my district that oppose certain technologies, such as ICE, which apprehend individuals arbitrarily without cause.'

What they're saying

Earlier this month, during a committee gathering, the MCSO mentioned they had preliminary discussions with a firm regarding data exchange.

The aim is not to deploy this technology on current surveillance systems as people move around inside courthouses for facial recognition purposes," explained MCSO Chief Deputy Brian Barkow. "Our objective isn’t like that; instead, we want to capture images specifically to aid in identifying individuals involved in serious criminal cases.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin has expressed concerns regarding the city of Milwaukee’s police department's pursuit of implementing facial recognition technology.

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"Regardless of their noble intentions, local leaders cannot control the situation once the data enters the system," stated Amanda Merkwae from the ACLU of Wisconsin.