Man Sexually Assaulted in Jail After Faulty Facial Recognition Match Led to His False Arrest, Lawyers Say
Harvey Murphy Jr., 61, has filed a lawsuit against Macy’s and EssilorLuxottica after being sexually assaulted in a Texas jail following a false arrest due to a faulty facial recognition match. Murphy was falsely accused of robbing employees at gunpoint in a Houston shopping center Sunglass Hut and detained in a Sacramento jail nearly 2,000 miles away at the time of the robbery.
According to Murphy’s attorneys, Macy’s facial recognition system and EssilorLuxottica’s surveillance-camera footage led Houston police to arrest him. While incarcerated, Murphy was beaten and sexually assaulted by three men in a Texas jail bathroom. After his horrific experience, Murphy was released with all charges dropped.
Murphy is seeking $10 million in damages and says the assault left him with “lifelong injuries.” This incident comes amidst increasing use of facial recognition Technology by retailers and law enforcement, raising concerns about the accuracy and misuse of the technology. Murphy’s lawsuit adds to the growing number of individuals, particularly Black individuals, who have reported wrongful accusations due to faulty facial recognition matches.
Facial recognition technology is being used by retailers to patrol stores for shoplifters and other unwanted customers, but concerns about inaccuracies and misuses have been raised. The Federal Trade Commission highlighted Rite Aid’s misuse of facial recognition technology, leading to shoppers being falsely accused of theft. Police departments have stated they use facial matches as an investigative lead, but Murphy’s case suggests that authorities placed confidence in automated results without substantial evidence.
In Murphy’s case, a warrant was issued for his arrest based on a sales associate’s identification of him as the robber through a photo lineup. However, charges were ultimately dropped after his alibi was verified.
The growing use of facial recognition technology raises concerns about potential wrongful accusations and misuses. Murphy’s case highlights the dangers of relying solely on facial recognition for criminal investigations and the dire consequences that can result from faulty matches.
This case brings to light the urgent need for more careful and responsible use of facial recognition technology by both law enforcement and retailers to avoid causing harm to innocent individuals.
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