Contributed by Kevin Jackson

Police tech manufacturer Wolfcom has gained attention recently for a dubious development. The company, responsible for selling dash and body cameras in addition to other police equipment, has contracts with over 1,500 agencies around the world. But they’re raising eyebrows for one of the features on their new line of body cameras: live facial recognition.

Wolfcom’s new Halo body camera boasts “Realtime Facial Recognition” for quickly identifying persons in the field. As OneZero reports, the camera, to be paired with a password-protected companion Android app, is already being beta tested with two Los Lunas PD officers in New Mexico. Released emails from company CEO Peter Austin Onruang state the technology is designed “to help officers identify missing persons, fugitives, suspects, and people with outstanding warrants.” OneZero reports the app has been downloaded 6 times and could already be in use in other departments. Wolfcom has promised beta-testing departments that they would have free access to the technology in the future.

The decision is a controversial one, with many in the tech intelligence field citing ethical concerns. Leading bodycam company Axon announced in 2019 that it would not use the technology, stating they “believe it is critical for technology leaders to work hard to understand the ethical, legal, and community implications for new technologies that are too new to be effectively covered by existing law.”

At this point, Wolfcom has not shown the intent to market the Halo line with full facial recognition. However, their website offers a free trial for qualifying police agencies.