The Trouble With Facial Recognition Doesnât Justify a Ban Itâs helped find thousands of dangerous criminals. Reasonable limits can prevent abuse and error. Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Kim Strassel, Bill McGurn, Allysia Finley and Dan Henninger. Images: Zuma Press/AP/Getty Images Composite: Mark Kelly By Brian E. Finch Dec. 15, 2020 6:19 pm ET Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was right not to sign legislation banning the use of facial-recognition technology by law-enforcement and public agencies statewide. The technology has come under fire over its potential for misuse and embedded racial biases. San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., have already banned its use by government agencies. But on Thursday Mr. Baker sent back to the Legislature a police-reform bill that included a blanket moratorium on facial-recognition systems, citing the technologyâs usefulness in catching perpetrators of egregious crimes.