The Mall of America has introduced facial recognition technology in order to enhance security measures and track persons of interest, the mall confirmed in a recent announcement. This technology will specifically focus on individuals who are currently trespassing at the mall, those who pose a threat to the environment, individuals identified by law enforcement, and those who are missing or potentially in danger.
To use this technology, photos of individuals of interest are uploaded into the recognition software, which then scans for matches to these images. If there is a positive match, the security team is alerted, leading to a further investigation by the Bloomington-based mall.
It is important to note that the facial recognition technology does not track or store information on individuals who are not considered persons of interest. This is a crucial feature aimed at maintaining privacy and protecting individuals from unnecessary surveillance.
Despite the benefits of this cutting-edge technology, some concerns have been raised regarding potential misidentification, particularly among people of color. Studies have shown that AI-based facial recognition has led to wrongful arrests and has lower accuracy rates when identifying young, Black, and female individuals.
The Mall of America has trained its security personnel in traditional facial recognition techniques to ensure that the alerts generated by the software are accurately analyzed. Following a human review process, mall officers will approach potential persons of interest and adhere to standard security protocols.
In contrast to neighboring Minneapolis, where facial recognition technology was banned for police and city agencies in 2021, the Mall of America has chosen to use the services of Corsight AI, a vendor that has been tested and approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to the mall, Corsight AI has been found to be highly accurate in its identification capabilities, correctly identifying individuals 99.3% of the time in DHS testing. This indicates that the technology is by far the best option available for enhancing security measures at the Mall of America while prioritizing the safety and privacy of all guests.