Lawmakers worry about biometric data in wake of Roe v. Wade

Biometric data is “no different than any other advanced technology” in that there are beneficial uses, but also its misuses can harm individuals Yet heavily regulating biometric technology could negatively impact its benefits, Obernolte said. For example, biometric technology and data has helped the Ukraine defense ministry using Clearview AI, a commercial provider of biometric systems, to recognize Russian assailants.

He said it’s up to policymakers to conduct due diligence to result in a better understanding of the technology, as well as carefully develop guidelines and standards for biometric technology use.

“Biometrics bring a lot of benefits to our daily lives and we want to make sure we’re able to continue to allow those benefits while protecting the privacy of the people who rely on biometrics,” he said.

Candice Wright, director of science, technology assessment and analytics at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, said federal agencies’ expanding use of biometric technology raises not only data privacy concerns, but concerns about technology accuracy, transparency in its usage, data security risk and protection of civil liberties.

Government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, for example, also rely on Clearview AI to identify perpetrators and victims in child exploitation cases.

Federal use of the technology means agencies should assess the privacy implications and privacy requirements before using biometric data tools like facial recognition systems, she said.

“Facial recognition technology is not going away and demand for it will likely continue to grow,” she said. “As agencies continue to find utility in the technology to meet their mission, balancing the benefits of the technology with data security requirements and privacy protections will continue to be important.”

Makenzie Holland is a news writer covering big tech and federal regulation. Prior to joining TechTarget, she was a general reporter for the Wilmington StarNews and a crime and education reporter at the Wabash Plain Dealer.