US lawmakers propose tighter rules for facial-recognition use

American Senator Rob Portman has introduced regulatory bills aimed at tightening government use of facial-recognition technologies. The report comes from FCW.

According to the document, the Accountability, Clarity, and Effectiveness in Technology Act (FACE IT) would not prevent authorities from deploying tracking systems, but would set out a number of restrictions.

The rules would authorize NIST to set minimum accuracy requirements for facial-recognition technology used by federal agencies.

The bill would also constrain government access to databases, require human involvement in decision-making, and provide individuals with the option to opt out of biometric identification.

According to Portman, such systems can be used to protect communities, but he worries about the potential for abuse.

“Given the implications of the federal government’s use of facial-recognition technology for civil liberties, we must pass a law that sets rules for the use of this technology,” the senator said.

The second provision would clarify that existing civil-rights laws apply to AI-driven decisions just as they would if these decisions were made by humans.

The bill would grant NIST the authority to conduct technical assessments with stakeholders to identify ways to reduce algorithmic discrimination.

“Rather than applying heavy-handed regulation to a new technology, Congress should make clear that we already have a wide range of laws to protect against discrimination,” the senator said.

Portman is set to leave Congress on January 3, 2023. He currently serves as co-chair of the Senate AI caucus. The bill’s fate remains unclear.

“[The senator] wants to help foster a productive discussion about the responsible use of AI, which will continue long after he retires,” Portman’s aide said.

As reported in January, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration launched the testing of a facial-recognition system for passenger screening in 16 airports.

In May, the White House unveiled the AI Rights Bill.

In February, the New York Supreme Court ordered the police to disclose records of facial-recognition use against Black Lives Matter protesters.

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