Orlando Police orders facial recognition software from Amazon

Amazon's Rekognition Video partnered with Orlando Police in a "pilot program" aimed at using existing city cameras to "provide real-time detection and notification of persons-of-interest."

While facial recognition software isn't a new concept, this technology would go beyond analyzing still photos, reports NPR.  The program is able to accurately track and identify people as they walk down the street.

Amazon Rekognition Director Ranju Das recently told a developer conference in Seoul, South Korea that Orlando is a "launch partner" with the company and gave a demonstration using a traffic cam provided by the City of Orlando.

“They have cameras all over the city,” said Das. “The authorized cameras are then streaming the data, we are a subscriber to the stream, we analyze the video in real time, search against the collection of faces they have."

In a written statement, OPD said they are not currently testing the the technology on the public and “any use of the system will be in accordance with current and applicable law.”