The Edmonton Police Service made an announcement on Tuesday regarding their plans to pioneer the use of Axon Enterprise’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology in testing facial-recognition-enabled body cameras, marking a first for any police force globally. Acting Supt. Kurt Martin, from EPS’ information and analytics division, emphasized during a news conference that the new facial-recognition technology is meant to complement, not replace, human investigative efforts. Trained officers will verify any identifications made by the software. The introduction of this technology aligns with the police force’s objective to enhance public and officer safety, all while respecting privacy concerns.
Axon Enterprise, a company based in Arizona, specializes in producing weapons and technology tools for military, law enforcement, and civilians in authorized regions. Commencing Wednesday, up to 50 Edmonton police officers equipped with body cameras will incorporate Axon’s facial-recognition-enabled cameras into their daily operations for the remainder of the month.
The decision to implement this technology now stems from the provincial government’s 2023 mandate requiring all police officers in Alberta to use body cameras, with EPS initiating their rollout in 2024. Martin clarified that the collaboration with Axon is distinct from the provincial directive and is a limited trial to ascertain the viability and functionality of facial recognition on body-worn video cameras for policing purposes.
The trial phase will involve testing the technology’s capability to aid officers in identifying individuals already flagged for safety concerns or with outstanding warrants for serious crimes. The system will analyze mugshots to facilitate swift apprehension of suspects with criminal charges. The data collected will be compared against the EPS database, focusing on individuals associated with significant warrants and officer safety alerts.
During field operations, officers will activate the facial-recognition system on the body cameras as needed for investigations or enforcement activities. The technology will operate in silent mode while recording, automatically analyzing faces within four meters of the camera. If no match is found, the facial data is promptly discarded, ensuring targeted and privacy-conscious usage. EPS will oversee the database and data management, with trained personnel reviewing footage to validate software accuracy.
While the introduction of facial-recognition technology presents opportunities for enhanced policing, concerns regarding accuracy and privacy persist. Stakeholders, including Ian Adams and Diane McLeod, have raised caution about the potential risks and legal implications associated with widespread adoption. The Edmonton police commission and the chief’s committee will evaluate the outcomes of the facial-recognition bodycams trial before determining future usage in 2026.
