The Edmonton Police Service revealed on Tuesday its plan to be the pioneer in adopting an artificial intelligence (AI) tool from Axon Enterprise for testing facial-recognition-enabled bodycams. Acting Supt. Kurt Martin emphasized that the technology is meant to complement, not replace, human investigative work. Trained officers will verify any facial matches identified by the software.
The initiative aims to enhance public and officer safety without compromising privacy. Axon Enterprise, based in Arizona, produces military and law enforcement technology products. Starting immediately, up to 50 Edmonton police officers equipped with bodycams will utilize Axon’s facial-recognition-enabled cameras during their shifts this month.
The decision to trial this technology aligns with the provincial mandate for police officers in Alberta to wear bodycams, which began implementation in 2024. Martin clarified that the collaboration with Axon is independent of this mandate and serves as a limited trial to evaluate the feasibility and functionality of facial recognition on body-worn cameras for policing purposes.
During field operations, the facial-recognition system on the bodycams will not be active unless activated by officers for specific investigations. The technology operates in “silent mode” while recording, sending facial data to the cloud for comparison against the EPS database. If no match is found, the data is promptly discarded. EPS solely manages the database, comprising individuals with serious warrants and officer safety alerts.
Following the trial, EPS will assess the software’s performance and potential matches. Despite the benefits, concerns about privacy and accuracy have been raised. Experts caution that facial-recognition technology must undergo thorough assessments to ensure compliance with privacy regulations and protection of individuals’ rights. The Edmonton police commission and chief’s committee will evaluate the trial outcomes before deciding on the future use of facial-recognition bodycams in 2026.