public housing new york

Lawmakers Seek to Ban Biometric Recognition Technology in Public Housing

The legislation, which would ban facial recognition entry systems, would be the first to address what technology landlords can impose on residents.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jul 26, 2019

Three Democratic congresswomen are pushing for a ban on the use of biometric and facial recognition technology in federally funded public and assisted housing with the aim of “protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology.”

The No Biometric Barriers Housing Act was introduced on Thursday by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts), Yvette Clarke (D-New York) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) amid a growing national debate about the role of facial recognition technology in society, particularly by law enforcement.

There is currently no federal law on the books regulating the use of facial recognition technology by police departments or other public institutions, such as housing funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This makes Pressley’s bill the first to address what technology landlords can impose on residents.

“Vulnerable communities are constantly being policed, profiled, and punished, and facial recognition technology will only make it worse,” Pressley said in a statement.

“Program biases misidentify women and people of color and yet, the technology continues to go unregulated,” she added, referring to research and testing that shows facial recognition technology is less accurate for women and people of color.

Read more: Orlando Police Department Ends Facial Recognition Pilot Program With Amazon

Along with a ban on facial recognition, the bill would require HUD to write and submit a report to Congress that analyzes any known uses of facial recognition in public housing, the purpose of installing technology in those units and the impact of the software on tenants’ civil rights.

For Tlaib and Clarke, the fight over facial recognition software has become a local priority in recent months. In Clarke’s Brooklyn district, over 130 tenants filed legal opposition against their landlord in May after the building sought to install a facial recognition entry system.

Those tenants argued that the system would violate their privacy rights and could lock out black, brown and female residents from their own homes, according to a release from Legal Services NYC. This bill would not affect the Brooklyn building or the company that owns it since the apartments are not public housing.

Clarke said the community uproar was a catalyst for her to craft legislation that addressed concerns about facial recognition surveillance, a system she called “flawed.”

“Someone living in public housing should not be the guinea pig for the emerging technology of biometric facial screening just to enter their own home,” Clarke said.

Tlaib’s Detroit district has also been at the center of a debate over police use of facial recognition software in a city-wide video surveillance program, referred to as Project Greenlight. Police officials there have said they only use facial recognition to investigate violent crimes and do not arrest anyone solely on the basis of a match within the system.

Read more: Opposition to Government Use of Facial Recognition Technology Grows in Detroit

The federal legislation co-sponsored by Tlaib would affect the program since some of Project Greenlight’s high-definition cameras are set up at public housing complexes, according to The Detroit Metro Times.

“We’ve heard from privacy experts, researchers who study facial recognition technology and community members who have well-founded concerns about the implementation of this technology and its implications for racial justice,” Tlaib said. “We cannot allow residents of HUD funded properties to be criminalized and marginalized with the use of biometric products like facial recognition technology.

Tlaib and Pressley are both members of “The Squad,” a group of four freshmen Democratic women of color in the House that also includes Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York). The quartet has been in the headlines in recent weeks for their ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    7 Ways You Can Secure a High-Traffic Commercial Security Gate  

    Your commercial security gate is one of your most powerful tools to keep thieves off your property. Without a security gate, your commercial perimeter security plan is all for nothing. Read Now

  • Surveillance Cameras Provide Peace of Mind for New Florida Homeowners

    Managing a large estate is never easy. Tack on 2 acres of property and keeping track of the comings and goings of family and visitors becomes nearly impossible. Needless to say, the new owner of a $10 million spec home in Florida was eager for a simple way to monitor and manage his 15,000-square-foot residence, 2,800-square-foot clubhouse and expansive outdoor areas. Read Now

  • Survey: 72% of CISOs Are Concerned Generative AI Solutions Could Result In Security Breach

    Metomic recently released its “2024 CISO Survey: Insights from the Security Leaders Keeping Critical Business Data Safe.” Metomic surveyed more than 400 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the U.S. and UK to gain deeper insights on the state of data security. The report includes survey findings on various cybersecurity issues, including security leaders’ top priorities and challenges, SaaS app usage across their organization, and biggest concerns with implementing generative AI solutions. Read Now

  • New Research Shows a Continuing Increase in Ransomware Victims

    GuidePoint Security recently announced the release of GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team’s (GRIT) Q1 2024 Ransomware Report. In addition to revealing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in the number of ransomware victims, the GRIT Q1 2024 Ransomware Report observes major shifts in the behavioral patterns of ransomware groups following law enforcement activity – including the continued targeting of previously “off-limits” organizations and industries, such as emergency hospitals. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation. 3