Two bills in the New Jersey Assembly would have the attorney general study how police across the state use facial recognition and artificial intelligence, then recommend statewide policies. Bill A-759 covers facial recognition: it would assess the tools available, how accurate they are, and how agencies use AI to write reports. Bill A-3076 has similar study requirements and would also oblige officers to check AI-drafted reports for accuracy and completeness.
Sponsors say they want to understand current use before setting restrictions, citing accuracy, accountability and public trust. Both bills cleared an Assembly committee on 19 October, and a state senator plans to introduce identical bills in the Senate.
A Montclair State professor argues for stronger measures now, such as disclosure to defendants, independent audits and community input. He points to California and Utah, which already require disclaimers and accuracy certifications for AI-assisted police reports.
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
