Politico reports:
The House Oversight Committee is exploring legislation that would place a moratorium on government funding for “any new use or expanded use” of facial recognition software by federal agencies, according to the panel’s top Republican. “We don’t want any more money being used, no money used to expand what we have or to purchase any new ability to impact or use this technology,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told Cristiano. Jordan said the potential moratorium would apply to new uses of facial recognition but added that committee leaders are also discussing restrictions on existing uses of the software by federal agencies.
Read more on Politico.
EPIC wants to remind us that they are all over this issue:
Politico reports that House leaders will consider a moratorium on funding facial recognition following a House Oversight Committee hearing on DHS facial recognition programs. Prior to the hearing, EPIC briefed members of the House committee about the entry-exit program at US airports. Air travelers have reported that it is difficult to opt-out and the agency has still not conducted a required rulemaking. Last month, EPIC led a coalition of over 35 organizations urging Congress to halt the use of face recognition on the general public. In a statement in April to the House Appropriations Committee, EPIC recommended that Congress halt the funding for the facial recognition program at TSA, also within the DHS. After a Buzzfeed story featured documents obtained by EPIC about plans to expand facial recognition at airports, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Mike Lee (R-UT) called for the suspension of the program.