FB pixel

The tide on face biometric bans is turning … and keeps turning

California bill would permanently bar facial recognition on police body cameras
The tide on face biometric bans is turning … and keeps turning
 

Absent federal regulation or industry action to protect individuals’ privacy, California is moving to harden the battle lines over facial recognition.

A bill has been introduced in the state senate that would make permanent a 2019 moratorium that has prevented law enforcement from installing much less using biometric surveillance systems with cameras worn by officers.

Senate Bill 1038 declares that officer cameras tied into facial recognition systems plugged into officers’ cameras (predominantly supplied by Axon) are vulnerable to attack and a “waste of critical public resources.” They also pose a threat to California’s constitutional right to privacy.

The 2019 law, which allows people to sue an agency or officer who violates it, expires next January.

It forced the mothballing of the Tactical Identification System, or TACIDS, beginning in 2020. The Automated Regional Justice Information System had used TACIDS to get face biometrics into the lands of local police departments.

California is not leading an unbroken parade of government bodies toward biometric surveillance bans. Most cities and counties have bigger priorities, first.

And second, the few moratoriums and bans passed by politicians over the last few years often find themselves under attack.

The New Orleans City Council is considering a measure that would slash at surveillance restrictions voted into law a little over a year ago, according to reporting by news publisher NOLA.com.

The city’s chief of police has pushed for a bill that would do that and more. The bill would permit law enforcement to use x-ray vans and wall-piercing radar as well as voice recognition tools.

Virginia lawmakers also want to reverse their state’s ban on facial recognition systems used by police. The year-old legislation would be replaced by one that would try to appease people who fear for their privacy rights.

For example, according to the Virginia Mercury, police would not be able to use face biometrics as probable cause to get a warrant. And any algorithm used would have to be evaluated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to be at least 98 percent accurate.

Article Topics

 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 

Latest Biometrics News

 

Oxford program to study DPI impact on social, financial inclusion

Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government has announced the establishment of the Oxford Digital Public Infrastructure Research Lab (OxDPI), an…

 

Idemia makes OEM pitch for biometric modules

A recent webinar from Idemia Public Security looks at how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can integrate seamless security into devices…

 

ICE wants biometric monitoring devices for alternative to detention program

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for biometric monitoring devices as part of its…

 

Biometrics coming to more stadiums with facial recognition tender in NSW

Venues New South Wales (VNSW) has issued a tender for facial recognition systems to be deployed at Stadium Australia (Accor…

 

FinGo supplying vein biometrics to boost gold mining transparency

SMX – a company operating in the so-called circular economy – is collaborating with finger vein biometrics firm FinGo in…

 

Biometric privacy law in Texas close enough to BIPA to protect Match

Just because you live in Illinois and a company has processed your biometrics without getting your informed consent, you may…

Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most Read This Week

Featured Company

Biometrics Insight, Opinion

Digital ID In-Depth

Biometrics White Papers

Biometrics Events