Dem Senators Ask: Is Facial Recognition A Civil Rights Violation?

In a letter sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, a group of Democratic senators demanded that the agency review how police use facial recognition and other biometric technologies and whether the use of such tools are in violation of federal civil rights laws.

“We are concerned that the use of certain forms of biometric technology, such as facial recognition technology, may potentially violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits ‘discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,’ based on “race, color, or national origin,” the Senators wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The letter’s signatories include Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Laphonza Butler (D-California), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Alex Padilla (D-California), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona).

read more