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The ACLU researchers raised concerns over Rekognition, Amazon’s facial recognition software suite, this past summer when they discovered what the researchers characterized as significant flaws in the product. This prompted an inquiry from lawmakers including Senators Ron Wyden, Chris Coons, and Ed Markey. Amazon’s unsatisfying response prompted yet another inquiry in November. Spearheaded by Markey, this effort was joined by seven other lawmakers including Congressman Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat. “We haven’t received much information and it seems like [for] somebody who’s very confident of their product it’s surprising that they won’t answer those questions,” Gomez told Gizmodo. Since this second letter was sent, yet another study indicated the presence of bias in Rekognition. Amazon contends that neither set of researchers followed the company’s guidelines for the software, but reporting by Gizmodo found that Rekognition’s only known law enforcement client—the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon—does not follow those suggested guidelines in its use of the software either. Representative Gomez said his staff asked Amazon if the company performs audits to make sure their clients are using the software as directed: “They said, ‘we have to get back to you.’”

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