S.T.O.P. Commends NYC Council Passage of Biometric Privacy Law

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Commends NYC Council Passage Of Biometric Privacy Law The sweeping bill bans the sale of facial recognition records and other biometric data, as well as requiring public notice for such systems.   (New York, NY, 12/10/2020) Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, commends the New York City Council’s passage of a sweeping biometric privacy law for commercial establishments. Under the bill, retailers and other commercial entities cannot use facial recognition or other biometric tracking without public notice, and these businesses will no longer be able to see biometric data for third parties.   SEE: Text of Introduction 1170-2018 https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3704369&GUID=070402C0-43F0-47AE-AA6E-DEF06CDF702A&Options=&Search=   “I commend the City Council for protecting New Yorkers from facial recognition and other biometric tracking. No one should have to risk being profiled by a racist algorithm just for buying milk at the neighborhood store,” says Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “While this is just a first step towards comprehensively banning biometric surveillance, it’s a crucial one. We shouldn’t allow giant companies to sell our biometric data simply because we want to buy necessities. Far too many companies use biometric surveillance systems to profile customers of color, even though they are biased. If companies don’t comply with the new law, we have a simple message: ‘we’ll see you in court.’”   This vote comes as growing numbers of companies track their customers with facial recognition and other biometric technology. Unfortunately, many of these systems have documented biases. Higher error rates for people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals lead stores to wrongfully call the police, putting their customers at risk of wrongful arrest.   SEE: Toys “R” Us Is Back—Now With More Surveillance! https://www.wired.com/story/toys-r-us-surveillance/   The civil rights group has repeatedly called on city and state lawmakers to follow the lead of a growing number of cities that have banned facial recognition. S.T.O.P. also continues to call on Governor Cuomo to sign A06787/S05140, which would ban facial recognition in New York Schools, and which has awaited his signature since July.   SEE: S.T.O.P. Welcomes Massachusetts Facial Recognition Ban, Urges NY to Enact Same https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/12/2/stop-welcomes-massachusetts-facial-recognition-ban-urges-ny-to-enact-same?rq=facial%20recognition   S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD For 22K Facial Recognition Searches https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/10/23/stop-condemns-nypd-for-22k-facial-recognition-searches   S.T.O.P. Welcomes NY Ban on Facial Recognition In Schools https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/7/22/stop-welcomes-ny-ban-on-facial-recognition-in-schools   The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider hosted by the Urban Justice Center. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   - END –