Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown is no fan of facial recognition technology in his adopted home state of Massachusetts, taking issue with it over its tendency to misidentify minorities.
To that end, the Celtic forward posted a series of tweets directed at Massachusetts politicians requesting they support a bill that would eliminate the use of this sort of inherently biased technology. The bill was written in response to the nationwide protests over systemic racism and police abuses, and was passed by the state legislature last week. It now awaits the signature of Governor Charlie Baker, who has said he needs time to review the legislation before deciding to sign it.
Massachusetts has a historic opportunity to pass meaningful police reforms that limit the use of racist surveillance. @SpeakerDeLeo @KarenSpilka @massgovernor. Take a stand today and send email in support of racial justice and police accountability
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) December 15, 2020
Brown weighed in on the bill on Tuesday evening, tweeting:
“Massachusetts has a historic opportunity to pass meaningful police reforms that limit the use of racist surveillance,” tweeted Brown. “[Massachusetts House Speaker Bob DeLeo], [Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka], [Governor Baker].”
“Take a stand today and send email in support of racial justice and police accountability,” he added.
Face surveillance is dangerous when it works, and when it doesn’t. Often, technology misidentifies Black and brown people. We need regulation of this tech now! Take a stand @speakerdeleo @KarenSpilka pass strong face surveillance regs in the police reform bill. @MassGovernor
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) December 15, 2020
Brown has taken a leadership role in bending his platform to help fight for such reforms, both within the NBA through his position as a member of the National Basketball Players Association’s executive committee, and in his private life, even to the point of organizing a protest in his native Atlanta last summer.
The Georgia native shows no signs of taking his foot off of the gas when it comes to using his celebrity to fight for racial equity and social justice — in fact, it appears Brown is just getting started.
