University of Miami Becomes Latest Battleground Over Facial Recognition

The University of Miami in recent days rebutted claims it uses facial-recognition technology after students accused campus police of using the tool to identify them at a protest related to the coronavirus pandemic. Two students claim UM's dean of students told a handful of campus protesters at a virtual meeting on Sept. 22 that they were identified at an unsanctioned demonstration using specialized software that analyzed camera footage of the event. "We walked away with the impression that they use facial recognition and they used a specific software to identify us," said Mars Fernandez, a doctoral student in counseling psychology and one of the students at the meeting. University officials subsequently denied campus police use facial-recognition technology except when collaborating with other law enforcement agencies in certain criminal investigations. UM Spokeswoman Jacqueline R. Menendez said in a statement Friday that the students from the Sept. 4 protest, many of whom wore masks, were identified using "basic investigative techniques."