“They all look alike anyway”: Examining the use of Project Green Light and Facial Recognition in Detroit

• In Event: Space & Race: Critical Regionalism, Big Tech Racism & Contested Highways

Abstract

Project Green Light Detroit began in 2016 as an initiative between small business owners, the Detroit Police Department, and the city of Detroit to combat crime in the city that often targeted gas stations, and “party stores” (convenience and liquor stores), however the initiative has expanded to other establishment types within Detroit, such as churches and community centers. Project Green Light utilizes assumed deterrents such as lighting, cameras, and signage, along with the reassurance of more rapid police response at establishments that chose to enroll in the program in efforts to reduce crime, however the initiative has not been without controversy, especially its facial recognition feature. Detractors of Project Green Light have argued that the initiative unfairly targets citizens of the predominantly African American city (over 75 percent African American), while sometimes leading to cases of mistaken identity (which have led to arrests) due to the technological limitations of facial recognition component of the program. This paper will examine the effectiveness of Project Green Light, the ways that it has sometimes led to an overreliance on technology, including issues of surveillance, and the impact that the initiative has had on African American Detroiters.

Author

• Eva Bohler, California State University, Long Beach