Portland Enacts Strictest Facial Recognition Ban in the Nation
The Portland City Council unanimously passes sweeping prohibitions on facial recognition technology for both government and private entities in public spaces.
The Portland City Council unanimously votes to adopt the strongest facial recognition bans in the United States. One ordinance prohibits city bureaus and the police department from using the technology, while another blocks private use in places of public accommodation like parks, stores, and restaurants.
The government ban takes effect immediately, but the private sector ban starts on January 1, 2021. The new laws allow individuals to sue noncompliant organizations for $1,000 per day of violation or for actual damages, whichever amount is greater.
This legislative move reflects growing concerns about biometric surveillance amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Portland now joins cities like San Francisco and Oakland in restricting this technology, setting a new high bar by targeting private businesses in addition to government agencies.