San Francisco has become the first US city to ban the use of facial recognition technology by police.

By a vote of 8-1, the city council moved to prevent the use of the technology that has become increasingly commonplace at places such as airports, and which is also being used by some police forces.

Those who support the ban say the technology is not only flawed, but a serious threat to civil rights, especially in a city that is celebrated for public protest and privacy.

They also worry people will one day not be able to go to a mall, the park or a school without being identified and tracked.

“Good policing does not mean living in a police state,” said supervisor Aaron Peskin, who introduced the measure, at a hearing last week. “Living in a safe and secure community does not mean living in a surveillance state.”

Technology comes to Bhutan Show all 19 1 /19 Technology comes to Bhutan Technology comes to Bhutan A youth drinks whiskey at a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, performs in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancers Ugyen Tshomo, 29, and Lhaden (R), 38, relax before going to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Men play snooker and gamble in a snooker hall in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, prepares to leave her house and go to work in a bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Smoke billows from machinery at a road construction site near the town of Punakha, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Drayang dancer Lhaden, 38, checks her mobile phone as she rests at home in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. "I'm not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice," she said. Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. "I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes." Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths sit outside a restaurant in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths play football near a highway in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A tourist bus makes its way along the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Women share a joke in a Karaoke bar in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan A man walks past a housing construction site in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Youths gather in an internet gaming centre in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Buddhist monks play football in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Sonam Tshering, 13, feeds cattle in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, December 14, 2017. "I would love to become a science teacher and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play for Real Madrid," said Sonam. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Houses stand in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan An electric heater and television sit in the corner of a traditional farmhouse in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton SEARCH "BHUTAN" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters Technology comes to Bhutan Zeko, 73, poses for a portrait at his home in Punakha, Bhutan, December 13, 2017. "I'm happy to have a mobile phone so I can talk to my relatives and children any time I want," Zeko said. Reuters

Groups such as the ACLU point to its test of Amazon’s facial recognition programme – called Amazon Rekognition – as proof, after scanning images of members of Congress and comparing them to archived arrest photos. Twenty-eight legislators were incorrectly matched, including six members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Meanwhile, critics say police need all the help they can get, especially in a city with high-profile events and high rates of property crime. That people expect privacy in public space is unreasonable given the proliferation of cell phones and surveillance cameras, said Meredith Serra, a member of a resident public safety group Stop Crime SF.

“To me, the ordinance seems to be a costly additional layer of bureaucracy that really does nothing to improve the safety of our citizens,” she said at the same hearing.

Microsoft president calls for regulation of AI facial recognition technology over discrimination fears

San Francisco’s new rule, which is set to go into effect in a month if a second vote, considered a formality goes ahead, forbids the use of facial-recognition technology by the city’s 53 departments — including the San Francisco police department, which doesn’t currently use such technology, CNN said. However, the ordinance carves out an exception for federally controlled facilities at San Francisco International Airport and the Port of San Francisco.

Late last year, the president of Microsoft called for greater government regulation of AI facial recognition technology, because of the risk of it discriminating against women and people of colour.

Brad Smith said such regulation would help avoid “a commercial race to the bottom, with tech companies forced to choose between social responsibility and market success”.

The comments of Mr Smith, 59, which were released at the same time as a report by a research group consisting of both Microsoft and Google employees also calling for more regulation, are especially noteworthy because of the controversy the company triggered earlier this year over comments about its work with AI.

In June, the company’s general manager Tom Keane, wrote how proud Microsoft was to be working with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to use facial recognition technology to help identify immigrants and process applications.