My own PSA: July 25, 2025
A bill introduced in the Michigan legislature by Democratic lawmakers would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks or otherwise concealing their identity while interacting with the public. The bill, named "Justice Needs No Mask," also mandates that officers display their name or badge number and the name or initials of their law enforcement agency. Exceptions would be made for undercover operations, hazardous environments, and situations requiring protective gear for disease prevention. Violations of the proposed law could result in a 90-day jail sentence and/or a $1,000 fine.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Betsy Coffia, cited concerns about the use of masked federal agents, particularly in the context of immigration enforcement, and the potential for impersonation and criminal activity. She argued that transparency and accountability are crucial for maintaining public trust in law enforcement. While some police agencies already adhere to similar transparency measures, Coffia stated that the bill is a response to recent incidents where masked individuals engaged in what appeared to be violent kidnappings or detentions, according to a Michigan news article.
The bill has faced criticism, with some arguing that it unfairly targets law enforcement and could put officers in danger. However, Rep. Coffia says it is a necessary step to ensure public safety and accountability. The bill is similar to one introduced in the US Senate by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, MI reports WWMT, and has the support of some Democratic lawmakers in the state.
Comments
The public currently has NO FRICKIN IDEA who these masked toy personal or soldiers are. If there's nothing to hide then don't hide it.
Story #1 ”Imagine you’re walking down the street and a stranger snaps your photo with his smartphone. He uses a facial recognition app and within minutes, he knows your name, age, where you were born, and your Social Security number. Think it’s a scene from the movie Minority Report? Think again.”
Story #2 “In the second experiment, they discovered the identities of students walking on campus, by linking images of their faces to those of their Facebook profiles. Photographs of students’ faces also eventually led researchers to guess their personal interests and, in some cases, their Social Security numbers …”
Story #3 ”When Kelly Conlon, a lawyer, tried to join her daughter's Girl Scout troop at a Rockettes performance the weekend after Thanksgiving, the venue scanned her face and barred her entry. Conlon reportedly appeared on an "attorney exclusion list" created by Radio City Music Hall's parent company, MSG Entertainment, “
Story #4 “ Have you ever wondered if the stores you shop at are watching you? Not just with security cameras. With something more advanced and creepy. Something that can recognize your face and identify who you are, where you live, what you like, and what you buy. Something that can track your every move and use your data for their own benefit. Well, guess what? They are. That’s right, some of the biggest retailers in this country are secretly using sneaky facial recognition technology in their stores.”
masks for virus protection of self , and more importantly others : Not OK.
in a world of nutjobs disguised as law enforcement, masks for law enforcement disguised as civilians : OK.
many years ago, asians came up with a low cost way to protect privacy : masks imprinted with alternative\generic\distorted facial features. AI flagged them as human but unidentified.
My point above is (1) The masks are intended to prevent retaliation / harassment of them and their families by people who oppose their acts and are equipped with facial recognition software. Heck, no need to snap a photo on a cell phone. There are now internet connected eyeglasses you can wear that act like a camera.
By extension, I fear that in another 5 or 10 years it will be dangerous to go out in public without facial covering unless you want your every movement, anywhere, everywhere, all the time being tracked and appearing all over the internet along with address, phone, SS number and possibly details about family members, your job and your finances. Every step you take, every business, store, entertainment venue you visit. Everything you buy. Everyone you associate with. All easily retrievable by anyone with internet.
Think of it. AI + facial recognition. What a combination.
Good post @Catch22
China has used facial recognition software (in conjunction with AI) for years to monitor it's citizens.
In January of this year, the Electronic Frontier Foundation drafted a memo to the Trump administration
regarding privacy and surveillance.
The majority of the memo's Surveillance section is below.
I haven't yet read the entire memo...
"As our technology becomes cheaper and faster, smaller and more wearable, our activities, our location, and even our otherwise private conversations have all become more available to scrutiny at all levels of government. Additionally, private companies collect more and more data—search history, location, purchase history, content of unencrypted conversations, and more—and frequently make that data available to the government, often without being legally required to do so. Law enforcement and the intelligence community continue to insist that such broad collection and access to data do not affect privacy and civil liberties."
"Those same entities then fight any limitation on their use of this data, on the theory that the data was 'legally collected.' This Catch-22 approach results in a system that no longer meets traditional Fourth Amendment requirements. This trend needs to be reversed."
"DOJ officials from both political parties have told Congress that the government needs to have 'every tool in the toolbox' to keep the nation safe, and that Congress and the public should just trust them to do what is right. But a nation built on the rule of law does not depend on trust; it depends on transparency and accountability."
"Stringent rules designed to protect individual liberty and privacy are not a referendum on the character of the people who work in law enforcement or the intelligence community. Rather, they are an important statement about the values we hold as Americans—freedom from tyranny also requires freedom from unfettered surveillance of our minds, bodies, and movements, as well as reasonable restrictions on how and when that surveillance can occur."
"As biometric technology (like facial recognition) and artificial intelligence technology become cheaper and more accessible, it is imperative for Congress and the Administration to understand the inherent risks and to put in place strong protections to limit or restrict their use. Many forms of surveillance technology are often used first at the border before expanding to the interior of the country. Unchecked use of such technologies presents risks to the privacy, security, and civil liberties of U.S. persons and non-U.S. persons alike. Additionally, when the government is freely given access to consumer data collected by companies, this sensitive data is now potentially criminal evidence, collected broadly, without cause or a warrant."
https://www.eff.org/wp/eff-transition-memo-incoming-trump-administration
About a year ago - maybe longer - TSA began taking facial shots of everyone passing through security at all the airports I’ve been through. Maybe a testament to the accuracy / reliability of facial recognition technology.
I have an online account at Walmart. Cancelled the free-shipping membership ($99 yearly) but still order a few things. Guess what? The online account displays every item I ever purchased at their various brick & mortar locations. I guess they do it following my debit card / credit cards. But, possibly, they are using biometrics as well.
What happens when all this collected garbage winds up in the wrong hands?