ACLU sues over facial recognition technology related by RI DLT

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training has no plans to make use of facial recognition technology in any of its programs. 

The department’s director, Matthew Weldon, made that statement Tuesday after civil liberties advocates raised questions about the department’s intentions, citing their inability to obtain documents from the agency. 

Earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, made a public records request seeking records related to the agency’s “actual or considered usage of facial recognition and identify verification software … in the course of processing unemployment claims.” 

On Tuesday, the ACLU announced that it had followed up with a lawsuit seeking the documents. 

Soon after, in a statement to The Journal, Weldon promised to provide the requested information. 

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“We will be in contact with the ACLU’s attorneys on this matter today to clear this issue up and provide the information they have requested,” Weldon said. “We apologize for any confusion we caused and look forward to a quick resolution in the courts." 

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More to come

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