Los Angeles Police Commission Facial Recognition Use Policy (LACRIS-only)
Los Angeles, CA · L.A. Board of Police Commissioners facial recognition use policy (Jan. 2021)
After officers were caught using Clearview AI, the LA Police Commission adopted a policy in early 2021 restricting LAPD facial recognition to the county's official mugshot database (LACRIS) for criminal investigations. Commercial face-scraping services like Clearview AI are prohibited.
Technical detail
Police Commission policy (Jan. 2021) limits LAPD facial recognition to the LA County Regional Identification System mugshot database with use logging and oversight reporting; an administrative policy, not a city ordinance.
Who is protected: People in Los Angeles subject to LAPD investigations
Who must comply: Los Angeles Police Department personnel
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2021-01-12 |
| Enacted | 2021-01-12 |
| Citation | L.A. Board of Police Commissioners facial recognition use policy (Jan. 2021) |
| Enforced by | Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners / LAPD Inspector General |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Internal discipline only |
| Topics | facial recognition · biometric data · police and surveillance AI · government use of AI |
| Last verified | 2026-06-10 |
| Official source | LA Police Commission Adopts Oversight Measures for Facial Recognition Tool — Courthouse News ↗ |
More AI rules in Los Angeles, CA
- LAPD lets Flock contract expire (Jul. 11, 2026) · In effect
- LAUSD BUL-151113.0 · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
- Lorenzano-Nunez v. Roestenberg — FR wrongful arrest (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Montgomery County MD Police Directive FC 0627 · In effect
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