Representative Ayanna Pressley and Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Restrict Federal Use of Facial Recognition Technology
Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, alongside Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, and Senators Edward Markey and Jeff Merkley, have reintroduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. This legislation aims to prohibit federal agencies from utilizing facial recognition and other biometric surveillance technologies, which identify individuals through physical characteristics like faces, voices, or gait. The proposed ban would remain in effect unless overturned by a subsequent act of Congress. Lawmakers highlighted that the measure is a direct response to the increasing government deployment of biometric technology, citing its use by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to target immigrants, protesters, and various communities across the country. The bill also seeks to prevent federal funds from being used to acquire or operate these surveillance systems and would tie certain federal grants for sta...
