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New York City Council to Introduce Two Bills to Ban the Use of Facial Recognition Technology
New York City Council members are set to introduce two bills that seek to ban the use of facial recognition technology without consent in businesses and residential buildings.
The bills are expected to be introduced during the City Council meeting on April 27, following a Committee on Technology meeting two days earlier.
First Bill: Biometric Identifier Information for Private Businesses
The first bill would amend the NYC code and prohibit private businesses, including arenas and stadiums, from using biometric identifier information such as facial scans, eye scans, voice prints, fingerprints, or hand scans to identify or verify a customer without their written consent.
The bill also requires businesses to develop a publicly available written policy that includes guidelines for destroying the collected information.
If businesses intentionally violate the law, they will face a fine of $5,000 per violation, as well as legal fees.
Second Bill: Biometric Recognition Technology in Residential Buildings
The second bill prohibits the use of biometric recognition technology that identifies tenants or guests without their consent in multiple dwelling buildings.
If passed, the bill would make it unlawful for building owners to install, activate or use such technology.
Concerns Over Facial Recognition Technology Use in New York
The introduction of the bills comes as Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan is facing legal action for using facial recognition technology to keep lawyers in active litigation against him or his properties out of his venues.
In response, the New York State Liquor Authority has begun proceedings that could strip MSG, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theater of their liquor licenses.
Dolan’s corporate entity, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., filed a petition in Manhattan Supreme Court in response to the charges.