News

Portland city council bans facial recognition ahead of referendum

Portland city council bans facial recognition ahead of referendum

Photo: clipart.com


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland city council has voted unanimously to ban the use of facial recognition technology.

Portland City councilors voted Monday in favor of the proposal submitted by City Councilor Pious Ali in November, the council did not explain why now was the time to move the item, the Portland Press Herald reported. The ordinance will take effect in 30 days.

Danielle West-Chuhta, the city’s top attorney, said that if voters approve the referendum in November to ban facial recognition it would replace the ordinance passed by the city council and can not be touched for five years.

Latest Headlines

1 hour ago in Local

Threat prompts evacuation at Bangor middle school

Fresh

A Bangor middle school was evacuated briefly due to a threat on Wednesday morning.

1 hour ago in Local

Man charged with murder in stabbing death under Tukey’s Bridge in Portland pleads not guilty

Fresh

The man accused of stabbing and killing a Portland woman on the Back Cove trail pleaded not guilty at a bail hearing on Wednesday.

8 hours ago in National, Trending

Tropical Storm Isaias forms, is forecast to become a hurricane and hit US Gulf Coast this week

Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday in the warm waters off eastern Mexico and forecasters said it was expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season before hitting the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week.

12 hours ago in Local, National

Collins, Jackson meet in first Maine Senate debate

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins distanced herself from President Donald Trump during her first Maine Senate debate with Democrat Troy…

21 hours ago in Local

Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Crash in Acadia National Park

Prosecutors say the man turned himself in two days after crashing his pickup truck into a tree