New technology has just been released which will allow police officers to identify an individual on a moment’s notice through their eyes, fingerprints, or facial recognition. The new device, named Mobile Offender Recognition and Information System (MORIS), has been described as a “game changer” by Sheriff Joseph McDonald.

According to FoxNews, the new device can take an image of someone’s face from up to 5 feet away, or if within 6 inches, can scan a person’s eye. Once the image is taken, an immediate check is done through the criminal database which will then display criminal records and identity information. The product is about the size of a smart phone and will run about $3,000 per device.

This clearly raises privacy concerns. With little to no current regulations concerning the device in place, it’s easy to see the potential abuse of power. What is to stop a police officer from scanning someone’s face when it can be done up to 5 feet away? Sure, it’s for safety reasons and if you have nothing to hide, why be worried? Well, the 4^th amendment says otherwise. Although there are arguments both for and against, a person has a fair argument that they have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their identity information. If an officer, without probably cause, is free to scan an individual, it seems fair to say that a person’s expectation of privacy has then been violated.

I’m really not opposed to this new technology at all. In fact, I think it in fact can/will be a game changer. However, like most things involving people’s privacy, I think it needs to be heavily regulated with clear standards for using said device on citizens.

It will be interesting to see how the device fairs as well as the clear opposition that is likely to erupt in the media.

Check out the video of the device in use at Switched.com.

Read more on the device at FoxNews.