Weekly Spotlight: Facial ID Faces the Heat
On Thursday, the Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, renewing federal aviation programs and establishing new safety and consumer protections for the next five years.
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On Thursday, the Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, renewing federal aviation programs and establishing new safety and consumer protections for the next five years. The bill was passed with no amendments, despite efforts by a bipartisan group of senators to include language that would rein in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use and expansion of face recognition technology.
Last June, TSA made known its plans to expand use of face recognition technology from its pilot program at 25 airports to around 430 airports across the country. We’ve written extensively about the threats face recognition technology poses to our civil rights. TSA’s expansion plan would take us into uncharted surveillance territory and could fundamentally “alter the relationship between citizen and government in a way that is inimical to democratic society” unless Congress takes the necessary steps to protect our privacy.
That a bipartisan group of senators raised concerns about face recognition technology is a positive sign. We’re encouraged by the traction and will continue pushing hard for oversight of and restrictions on government agencies’ use of this dangerous technology.
Read our recent public comment on the dangers of the unchecked use of face recognition technology in policing.
INVESTIGATION
From Toxic Mold to Rampant Fraud: How Privatizing Military Housing Became a Nightmare for Soldiers
The Pentagon wanted to offload rising maintenance costs. America’s service members have paid the price ever since.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment: Face Recognition Technology and Civil Rights
POGO comment to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on face recognition technology used by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“This scenario raises a million red flags of the appropriateness of government contractors feting their public sector customers.”
Danielle Brian, Executive Director, in NBC News
OVERHEARD
"When the government can spy on us based on minimal standards and without external review, it is easy for agents to justify surveillance based on their own biases." - COC's @bbrockmyerLast year, @POGOwatchdog published an investigation into allegations that the (now former) head of @CommerceOIG exposed a whistleblower's identity. In a new letter to @POTUS, @housescience write that the problems in that watchdog office go much deeper. https://pogo.org/investigations/top-commerce-watchdog-exposed-a-whistleblowers-identity?utm_source=pogotwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=commerce-invhttps://t.co/RgIfmwVGkw
— Project on Government Oversight (@POGOwatchdog)March 18, 2024
