The Mall of America (MOA) in Bloomington, Minnesota is now using facial recognition technology as part of its security system to identify individuals who are deemed “persons of interest.” This technology allows the mall’s security team to quickly and efficiently identify individuals who may pose a threat or have been trespassed from the premises.
When a person of interest is identified, their photo is uploaded into the facial recognition system, which only searches for matches to those specific photos. If there is no match, no data is stored, and the system does not track or retain any information on non-persons of interest. If a match is detected, an alert is sent to the security team who will then conduct an investigation.
The use of this cutting-edge technology allows the mall’s security team to fill in the gaps left by human officers and enhance overall safety for guests. According to Vice President of Security at Mall of America, Will Bernhjelm, “We believe that this technology enhances our ability to protect our guests and our property.”
However, some argue that this technology violates privacy rights and can be used for surveillance purposes. In 2021, the Minneapolis City Council voted to ban facial recognition technology in most cases due to concerns over privacy and social justice issues. Other cities that have banned facial recognition technology include Boston and San Francisco.
FOX 9 reached out to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for comment on Mall of America’s use of facial recognition technology but has not received a response at this time.
