Face Scan Backlash Draws Revival of Proposed US Agency Ban

Democratic lawmakers led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) revived a legislative push to prevent the US government from using facial recognition technology that has sparked concerns over its potential for discrimination and privacy harms.

The proposed Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act would ban federal agencies from using the technology without specific authorization from Congress. The bill also would restrict government use of other technologies that analyze a person’s voice, walk, or other physical characteristics, while limiting state and local law enforcement’s ability to use federal funding to purchase such tools.

Facial recognition is being deployed for identity checks ...