Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
US mom blames face recognition tech for flawed arrest
Porcha Woodruff. (Photo: New York Post)
Latest News
August 7, 2023

US mom blames face recognition tech for flawed arrest

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, (AFP) – A mother is suing the city of Detroit in the United States, saying unreliable facial recognition technology led to her being falsely arrested for carjacking while she was eight months pregnant.

Porcha Woodruff was getting her two children ready for school the morning of February 16 when a half-dozen police officers showed up at her door to arrest her, taking her away in handcuffs, the 32-year-old Detroit woman said in a federal lawsuit.

“They presented her with an arrest warrant for robbery and carjacking, leaving her baffled and assuming it was a joke, given her visibly pregnant state,” her attorney wrote in a lawsuit accusing the city of false arrest.

The suit, filed Thursday, argues that police relied on facial recognition technology that should not be trusted, given “inherent flaws and unreliability, particularly when attempting to identify Black individuals” such as Woodruff.

Some experts say facial recognition technology is more prone to error when analyzing the faces of people of color.

In a statement Sunday, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office said the warrant that led to Woodruff’s arrest was on solid ground, NBC News reported.

“The warrant was appropriate based upon the facts,” it said.

The case began in late January, when police investigating a reported carjacking by a gunman used imagery from a gas station’s security video to track down a woman believed to have been involved in the crime, according to the suit.

Facial recognition analysis from the video identified Woodruff as a possible match, the suit said.

Woodruff’s picture from a 2015 arrest was in a set of photos shown to the carjacking victim, who picked her out, according to the lawsuit.

Woodruff was freed on bond the day of her arrest and the charges against her were later dropped due to insufficient evidence, the civil complaint maintained.

“This case highlights the significant flaws associated with using facial recognition technology to identify criminal suspects,” the suit argued.

Woodruff’s suit seeks unspecified financial damages as well as legal fees.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Over 200 firefighters battle blaze in southern France
Latest News, News
Over 200 firefighters battle blaze in southern France
August 9, 2026
MENDE, France (AFP) — A fast-moving wildfire was raging in southern France on Sunday, forcing evacuations as more than 200 firefighters raced to conta...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bartlett declares ‘the Age of Resilience’ in Canada, urges world to finance tourism’s future before the next crisis
Latest News, News
Bartlett declares ‘the Age of Resilience’ in Canada, urges world to finance tourism’s future before the next crisis
August 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Against the backdrop of smoke-filled Canadian skies and a global economy in flux, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Kingston men charged following robbery in Portmore
Latest News, News
Kingston men charged following robbery in Portmore
August 9, 2026
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Two men have been arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation, possession of prohibited weapon, using a firearm to comm...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NaRRA CEO heads to Peru to examine resilience reconstruction practices
Latest News, News
NaRRA CEO heads to Peru to examine resilience reconstruction practices
August 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), Ambassador Antony Anderson, will travel t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CB Chicken fuels flavour and community spirit at Walkerswood Jerk Festival
Latest News, News
CB Chicken fuels flavour and community spirit at Walkerswood Jerk Festival
August 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Walkerswood Community Centre in St Ann came alive with food, entertainment and community spirit recently, as the fourth annual...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St James High to benefit from charity 5k night run/walk
Latest News, News
St James High to benefit from charity 5k night run/walk
August 9, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — St James High School, which is continuing its recovery from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, has been selected as the beneficiary ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Douglas, Marshall add to medal tally at WU20
Latest News, Sports
Douglas, Marshall add to medal tally at WU20
August 9, 2026
OREGON, United States (AFP) — Shanoya Douglas won a silver medal in the women’s 200m and Tiana Marshall won the bronze medal in the 100m hurdles on Sa...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Caricom calls for greater protection and inclusion of indigenous peoples
Latest News, Regional
Caricom calls for greater protection and inclusion of indigenous peoples
August 9, 2026
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is calling for stronger policies to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and expand o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct