BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Baltimore City Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold a legislative oversight hearing to review the use of artificial intelligence weapon-detection technology in the city’s public schools.
The committee, chaired by Councilman Mark Conway, will hear testimony from Baltimore City Public Schools, School Police, the Baltimore Police Department, and other stakeholders.
ALSO READ | Trust issues arise as Baltimore County Schools survey omits AI weapons detection alerts
The hearing will examine the system’s effectiveness and accuracy, procurement practices, student safety concerns, and plans for long-term oversight.
The review follows the expansion of the Evolv weapon-detection system across all Baltimore City high schools.
In 2023, the technology was piloted at six schools, where it generated more than 17,500 alerts from roughly 73,000 student scans.
ALSO READ | ‘Flawed’: Police leader questions multiple Maryland schools using AI weapon detection
According to city data, only 10 weapons were recovered during the pilot period.
Despite the limited number of confirmed detections, the school system expanded the program in 2024 under a contract valued at approximately $5.46 million, along with an additional $540,000 for electrical upgrades.
The Evolv system has faced national scrutiny, including reports of missed weapon detections, questions about accuracy settings, and a Federal Trade Commission settlement related to unsupported performance claims.
ALSO READ | Same AI gun detection software that missed school shooting, falsely flags Maryland student
“This hearing is about ensuring that technologies marketed as safety solutions are actually protecting students, operating responsibly, and being deployed with transparency and accountability,” Conway said, via press release. “Public safety decisions involving children demand rigorous oversight.”
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
A date for the hearing has not yet been announced.
Local Story
