Lawmakers Push Again for Federal Biometrics Ban

Lawmakers in Washington have introduced the “Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act”, which would ban the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The bill is aimed at addressing the issues of privacy and civil liberties raised by the use of such technology, which has already been put to use by local, state, and federal agencies.

Research has revealed that nearly half of U.S. adults’ faces are already in a facial recognition database, and facial recognition systems have been found to deliver accuracy rates that vary across racial and gender lines, though various companies have made efforts to eliminate demographic bias from their solutions in recent years.

Representative Pramila Jayapal, a backer of the bill, has long called for the government to halt the deployment of facial recognition technology, stating that it is not only invasive, inaccurate, and unregulated, but has also been weaponized by law enforcement against minority groups across the country.

The bill has received support from several Democrat representatives and senators, including Edward Markey, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden. The act would prohibit the use of facial technology and biometric technologies, including voice recognition, gait recognition, and “other immutable physical characteristics,” by federal agencies, with the prohibition only to be lifted with an act of Congress. The bill would also provide federal funding to state and local agencies to phase out usage of facial recognition and biometric technology and prohibit the use of federal money for biometric surveillance.

The legislation also provides a private right of action for people whose biometric data is used in violation of the act and allows states to enact their own laws on facial recognition and biometric technologies. The bill has received the endorsement of several civil society groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The introduction of the bill comes amid controversy over the expanding use of face-scanning and biometric technologies used by cities, states, and federal agencies and law enforcement. A 2021 audit by Congress’ research arm found that 18 of the largest 24 federal agencies deployed facial recognition technology, raising concerns about the technology’s potential for discrimination and invasion of privacy.

Senator Edward Markey emphasized the risks posed by biometric data collection, stating that it poses serious risks of privacy invasion and discrimination, and Americans know they should not have to forgo personal privacy for safety. As lawmakers work to make the country more equitable, they cannot ignore the technologies that stand in the way of progress and perpetuate injustice.

This is the third time the legislation has been introduced in Congress, with previous efforts having failed in 2020 and 2021.

Sources: NextGov, Fox 13 News

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March 7, 2023 – by the FindBiometrics Editorial Team