Lawmakers Push Bill to Halt Federal Use of Facial Recognition
A bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduces legislation to ban federal agencies from utilizing facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The bill also restricts local governments from using federal funds for biometric surveillance systems.
A group of Democratic lawmakers reintroduces the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to stop federal agencies from using biometric technologies like facial recognition. This legislation prohibits federal entities from utilizing these tools and blocks federal funds from supporting any biometric surveillance systems. The bill receives endorsements from major civil society organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
The proposed legislation also targets local and state governments by restricting their access to federal grant funding unless they implement local bans on biometric technology. Furthermore, the bill explicitly bans any biometric data collected in violation of these rules from being used as evidence in judicial proceedings. Lawmakers highlight the invasive nature and documented inaccuracies of these surveillance tools as primary reasons for the strict prohibitions.
Supporters of the bill argue that facial recognition technology acts as a weapon against Black communities and perpetuates racial injustice within law enforcement practices. Representative Pramila Jayapal emphasizes that stopping federal use of this technology represents a necessary step to protect civil liberties and aggressively combat systemic racism. While the bill previously stalled in committee during the last Congress, its sponsors continue to push for an immediate moratorium on government surveillance.