Facial recognition software offers tools that can improve law enforcement. Just recently, this technology was instrumental in the charges against hundreds of people that stormed the U.S. Capital on January 6, 2021. However, does that mean we should use it?

Samuel Hodge Jr., professor of legal studies at the Fox School, examines the use of forensic technologies in law and court cases. This includes facial recognition software, automatic license plate readers and police body cameras. 

In some cases this technology is used for good, but in others it poses major ethical issues about privacy rights. Barring stronger guidelines for their use, the benefits can easily be overshadowed by the potential of those with power to abuse or sidestep the purpose of these technologies.