Las Vegas Sheriff Backs Police Union’s Opposition to NFL’s Facial Recognition Policy

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill has expressed support for the local police union’s resistance to the NFL’s new facial recognition policy, which would require officers working security at Raiders games to share their photos for biometric identification.

The policy is part of a league-wide expansion following a pilot program at six stadiums. The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, representing the officers, has urged members to reconsider compliance, citing concerns that biometric data, particularly photos, could fall into the hands of third-party vendors or groups that might misuse it.

Last month, the LVPPA raised concerns over the NFL’s plans to implement a facial recognition-based credentialing system, which would require individuals, including police officers working security, to register their biometric data for access to restricted areas of stadiums.

At the time, LVPPA President Steve Grammas warned officers in a video that their biometric data could be shared with third parties and potentially used by groups with opposing views to law enforcement. The pushback represented something of an irony in the debate around biometrics, as police have historically supported facial recognition for law enforcement purposes, while privacy advocates have voiced concerns about its widespread use.

The NFL’s biometric credentialing system, developed in partnership with Wicket, has been piloted at several stadiums and is set to expand, though Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium is sticking with traditional security methods for now.

While the NFL has offered to destroy the biometric data at the end of each season, concerns persist about third-party access.

Sheriff McMahill acknowledged that it is up to individual officers whether to continue working games under the new policy but emphasized that public safety remains the top priority. He also assured that contingency plans are in place to maintain security if the union and the NFL fail to reach an agreement. Currently, officers are using a wristband system for identification at games.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal

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September 11, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith