Bill in Congress would ban feds from using facial recognition technology

A new bill in Congress would prohibit federal law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology taken from body-worn cameras.

“As facial recognition and other biometric technologies are increasingly used by U.S. law enforcement, it becomes ever more important to mitigate adverse impacts,” said Virginia Democratic Congressman Don Beyer, who introduced the Facial Recognition Ban on Body Cameras Act along with Congressman Ted Lieu, D-Calif.

The bill would also prevent state and local law enforcement agencies from using federal funds to purchase body-worn cameras with facial-recognition and biometric capabilities.

“Facial recognition technology is very powerful and must be used responsibly. That means not allowing the overly broad application of this technology to impact anyone’s civil liberties,” Lieu said.

The use of facial recognition technology and other biometric surveillance is becoming increasingly widespread by law enforcement.

A 2019 National Institute for Standards and Technology report found that algorithms used in facial recognition technology misidentified more people of color than white people and misidentified women more than men.

That study went on to note that high error rates attributed to algorithmic bias.

“Evidence of both individual incidents and broad studies suggests that flaws in the design and use of these technologies are already leading to negative and unintended consequences, while Congress continues to lag in addressing these consequences,” Beyer said. “Police-worn body cameras are supposed to improve transparency and accountability, and our bill would ensure this technology does so without the threat of mass, roving government surveillance.”

Text of the Facial Recognition Ban on Body Cameras Act is available here.