New York Police Unveil Sci-Fi-Style Iris-Scanning Technology

Ben Muessig - ... The New York City Police Department unveiled iris-scanning technology on Monday designed to prevent criminal suspects from assuming false identities.

Authorities decided to start photographing suspects' eyes after two detainees facing serious charges were able to escape custody during arraignment by using the names of suspects facing minor charges, The New York Times reports. ... Police officials say the $500,000 program -- which will be extended to New York City's other boroughs before the end of the year -- is a way to keep potentially dangerous suspects from beating the system. But civil rights watchdogs say the sci-fi-style eye-scanning devices could strip New Yorkers of their privacy.

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, says police haven't proved that the eye scanners are necessary, cost-effective or reliable in properly identifying suspects.

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