Software Engineer Detained for 10 Hours Following Facial Recognition Mishap
Alvi Choudhury, a software engineer of Bangladeshi origin, experienced a distressing ordeal last month when he was arrested at his Southampton home and detained for 10 hours. The arrest occurred after facial recognition software incorrectly identified him as the suspect in a burglary that took place in Milton Keynes, approximately 100 miles away.
Confusion and Anger During the Arrest
Choudhury recounted to the Guardian that he was deeply confused when police officers knocked on his door while he was working and proceeded to arrest him. His confusion turned to anger when he viewed the CCTV footage of the burglary, realizing the actual culprit bore no resemblance to him. "I was very angry, because the kid looked about 10 years younger than me," said Choudhury, who sports a beard. He emphasized the differences: "Everything was different. Skin was lighter. Suspect looked 18 years old. His nose was bigger. He had no facial hair. His eyes were different. His lips were smaller than mine."
Choudhury expressed suspicion that racial profiling may have played a role, stating, "I just assumed that the investigative officer saw that I was a brown person with curly hair and decided to arrest me."
Police Response and Previous Arrest
At the Hampshire police station, Choudhury reported that officers laughed when he questioned them, asking, "Does this look anything like me?" He added, "They knew I wasn't the suspect after looking at footage of the suspect and looking at my picture."
This incident was not Choudhury's first encounter with law enforcement. His mugshot was already in the system due to a previous arrest in 2021, which he described as wrongful. He explained that he had been attacked during a night out at a university in Portsmouth, was released, and the case saw no further action. Now, he fears that his mugshot remains in the system, leading to potential future issues. "I am scared that if a brown person in Scotland robs a bank, they are going to come after me," he said.
Choudhury is now seeking damages from the police for the arrest, which he claims was made a public spectacle as neighbors witnessed him being led away in handcuffs.
Police Acknowledge Error but Deny Racial Bias
The Thames Valley police have acknowledged that the arrest was incorrect but have firmly denied any racial bias in the process. A police spokesperson told the Guardian, "While we apologise for the distress caused to the complainant in this case, their arrest was based on the investigating officers' own visual assessment that the individual matched the suspect in CCTV footage following a retrospective facial recognition match, and was not influenced by racial profiling."
This statement highlights the ongoing debate over the accuracy and fairness of facial recognition technology in law enforcement, particularly concerning potential biases against minority groups.
