Axios PM: Facial recognition under scrutiny — 🍾 Pics: Before the ball drops

1 big thing: Facial recognition under the spotlight | Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Open in app View in browser   Presented By JPMorgan Chase & Co.   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Dec 30, 2020 🧤 Good Wednesday afternoon. Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 537 words, a 2-minute read. ⚡ Breaking: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he doesn't see a "realistic path to quickly pass" the $2,000 stimulus checks that President Trump has requested. "The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of Democrats' rich friends that don't need the help."     1 big thing: Facial recognition under the spotlight Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Law enforcement's use of facial recognition faces a new wave of scrutiny because of a wrongful arrest lawsuit by Nijeer Parks, a 33-year-old Black man in New Jersey. Why it matters: While advocates of the tech say it's a valuable tool in solving crime, facial recognition programs repeatedly show they are less accurate on people of color, Axios' Ina Fried notes. Parks spent more than a week in jail on charges of shoplifting, drug possession and assault. His case was dismissed in November 2o19. Authorities used a driver's license shown during the crime to pull a photo of the perpetrator. They say the photo was a "high profile" match to Parks. It's unclear which specific software was used in Parks' case, Axios' Ursula Perano reports. The big picture: Some jurisdictions, including Portland and San Francisco, have banned the use of facial-recognition technology in law enforcement, the Wall Street Journal reports. Other companies that produce the tools have pulled back their distributions or halted police use until racial biases can be addressed. The bottom line: Parks "is the third person known to be falsely arrested based on a bad facial recognition match," the N.Y. Times notes. "In all three cases, the people mistakenly identified by the technology have been Black men."     2. Pics du jour: Before the ball drops Photos: Kathy Willens/AP   Above: Workers install Waterford crystal triangles on the Times Square ball — a geodesic sphere that's 12 feet in diameter, sports 2,688 crystal triangles, blazes with 32,256 LEDs, and weighs 11,875 pounds. Flashback: The first ball, in 1907, was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds, and was covered with 100 light bulbs. 🐇 Go down the rabbit hole. Below: What you won't see ... Times Square, one year ago tomorrow: Photo: Frank Franklin II/AP     A message from JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase commits new $30 billion to advance racial equity     JPMorgan Chase makes makes additional commitments to address the racial wealth divide and reduce systemic racism, focusing on: Expanding affordable housing and homeownership. Growing minority-owned businesses. Improving financial health. Building a more diverse and inclusive workforce.     3. Catch up quick 🇪🇺 EU strikes an investment deal with China despite forced labor concerns, setting up a showdown with the Biden administration, Axios' Zach Basu reports. Go deeper. 🇨🇳 A China court imprisoned 10 democracy activists who tried to flee Hong Kong by speedboat, and deported two minors who were with them. Go deeper. ⚡️Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tweeted that he'll object to the certification of President-elect Biden's victory on Jan. 6 — the first senator to join a group of House Republicans. Go deeper. 🏈 ESPN star Kirk Herbstreit tweeted that he'll call the Sugar Bowl (Clemson vs. Ohio State) from home after testing COVID positive. Go deeper.     4. 1 coop thing: Backyard chickens The Abtas and their backyard chicken run. Photo: Terry Chea/AP Hunkering at home, more people are setting up coops and raising their own chickens — providing an earthy hobby, companionship and a steady supply of fresh eggs, AP's Terry Chea reports from Ross, California. Why it matters: The pandemic is accelerating the popularity of amateur chicken-keeping, which was already growing among people seeking environmental sustainability in their food. Allison and Ron Abta of Northern California's Marin County took the plunge in August, to the delight of their three kids. The chicks "actually have personalities once you get to know them," said Violet, 12, holding a dark-feathered hen in her woodsy backyard. The baby birds lived inside the family's home for six weeks before moving into the chicken run in the yard. A wire-mesh enclosure protects the five heritage hens from bobcats, foxes and other predators. The Abtas bought their chicks from Mill Valley Chickens, which estimates sales have grown 400% this year. Ben Duddleston of nearby San Anselmo calls himself a "first-time chicken dad." A heritage hen at Mill Valley Chickens in Mill Valley, Calif. Photo: Terry Chea/AP     A message from JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chicago advances an equitable recovery from COVID-19     JPMorgan Chase joins Chicago's Together We Rise initiative to help the region rebuild from the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 along racial lines. The firm is making long-term commitments to increase homeownership and support small businesses in Chicago's Black and Latinx communities.     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: