Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said this week he is
introducing the reform measure along with independent Senator
Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The effort comes after growing
concerns about biometric data collection among private
companies, including the use of facial-recognition technology.
The senators cited a recent Reuters investigation into Rite
Aid's facial-recognition program among other reports causing
alarm about the technology's use.
"We have to fight against a 'big brother' surveillance state
that eradicates our privacy and our control of our own
information, be it a threat from the government or from private
companies," Merkley said in a statement.
The bill is backed by the American Civil Liberties Union,
Electronic Frontier Foundation and Open Technology Institute.
This year, Merkley introduced legislation to impose a moratorium
on all federal governmental use of facial-recognition technology
until Congress passes a bill outlining specific uses. Congress
has held committee hearings on facial recognition, but no
legislation has been approved.
(Reporting by David Shepardson. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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