Texas Man Sues Macy's, Sunglass Hut Over Wrongful Arrest Due to Facial Recognition Error

Harvey Murphy Jr. alleges the companies' use of facial recognition led to his false arrest and subsequent assault in jail, highlighting concerns over the accuracy of such technology.

Harvey Murphy Jr., a 61-year-old Texas man, is suing Macy's, Sunglass Hut, and parent company EssilorLuxottica for $10 million, alleging their use of facial recognition software led to his wrongful arrest and subsequent assault in jail.
Murphy was identified as the suspect of an armed robbery at a Houston Sunglass Hut in January 2022, despite being in Sacramento, California at the time.
Murphy was arrested in October 2022 when he attempted to renew his driver's license in Texas. He was held in jail for nearly two weeks, during which he was reportedly beaten and sexually assaulted.
Murphy's charges were dropped after his alibi was confirmed, but the lawsuit alleges he suffered permanent physical and psychological injuries from the assault in jail.
The lawsuit highlights the potential dangers and inaccuracies of facial recognition technology, particularly in law enforcement and security contexts.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Houston Public Media