New Orleans has implemented a live facial recognition network, reportedly the first in a major American city. This system was introduced and is operated by Project NOLA, a private non-profit organization.
Origins and Operation
Project NOLA was established in 2009 by Bryan Lagarde, a former police officer. Citing police understaffing following Hurricane Katrina, Lagarde stated the need for more surveillance cameras, viewing them as a "force multiplier." The organization functions as a central point for video feeds from over 5,000 privately-owned cameras. In 2022, live facial recognition capabilities were added to approximately 200 of these cameras.
The system continuously scans faces of individuals in public areas, primarily the French Quarter. When a face matches one of approximately 250 individuals on Project NOLA's "hot lists," which include people wanted by federal, state, or local agencies, or those identified by Project NOLA as involved in felony-level criminal activity (e.g., individuals seen with weapons or engaged in gang activities), an alert is generated. Project NOLA states it provides this information to law enforcement based on specific criteria.
Lagarde indicates that Project NOLA employs "guardrails" for its operations, including requiring case numbers for law enforcement facial recognition requests to verify legitimate investigations. The organization also plans to launch a website to disclose the number of facial recognition requests received and from which agencies. Project NOLA continues to conduct searches for federal and state police agencies and provides unsolicited tips to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) based on individuals the department is seeking.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
The use of live facial recognition by Project NOLA garnered public attention following a May Washington Post report. The ACLU of Louisiana stated that the system violated a local NOPD ordinance, which permitted facial recognition but not this specific type of live facial recognition from a third-party entity.
In April, before the report's publication, NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick determined that cooperation with Project NOLA might violate city ordinances and consequently paused police collaboration on real-time alerts. While acknowledging the technology's potential value for policing, Kirkpatrick emphasized that "you cannot control your privacy concerns through private enterprise."
Federal law, specifically United States v. Jones, requires police to obtain probable cause and a warrant for continuous tracking using technology. University of Washington law professor Ryan Calo raised concerns that private surveillance might circumvent these legal protections, referencing historical patterns of law enforcement using private entities for surveillance activities.
Public and Political Responses
A city council member introduced legislation to formalize police cooperation with third-party facial recognition providers and establish rules and reporting requirements for the technology; however, this ordinance did not advance. Discussions about authorizing the city to develop its own live facial recognition system also stalled due to concerns about potential loss of control to other agencies, particularly regarding federal immigration enforcement.
Public opinion in New Orleans is divided. Some residents expressed privacy concerns, particularly regarding who controls the monitored lists. Others, including local business owners who host Project NOLA cameras, expressed support for the technology, citing increased feelings of safety and a belief that surveillance promotes better behavior.