The Lawton Police Department recently presented information about an investigative software tool named Clearview AI to the City Council. The software is currently being evaluated for its potential to augment police work in tracking down suspects and victims, and the department was quick to outline the specifics of how the tool functions and the protections designed to ensure privacy is upheld, as per a report from the Ciy of Lawton's official website.
Clearview AI is a tool designed to help detectives working on active investigations by allowing them to upload an image of a suspect or missing person and search for possible matches online. It saves time by speeding up what could otherwise take weeks or months of manual searching, but it is not used to make arrests or replace detectives’ judgment, as reported by the Ciy of Lawton.
The Lawton Police Department emphasized what Clearview AI does not do. It does not install cameras, access city camera systems, monitor people in real time, take photos of residents, or create a database of community faces. All images used in Clearview AI are stored and managed by the police department as part of normal investigative procedures. Access is limited to about 26 trained personnel, and every use is documented to ensure accountability and prevent misuse.
In the ongoing discourse about the balance between public safety and individual privacy, the Lawton City Council approved the software's trial with added directives for oversight including thorough policy reviews by the City Manager and City Attorney to secure transparency and accountability, as mentioned on the Ciy of Lawton's newsflash page. The City also emphasizes their commitment to such transparency, along with the responsible utilisation of technology that respects the right to privacy.
