Bill > S47

This bill seeks to regulate the use of face surveillance and other biometric recognition technologies by public agencies and officials in Massachusetts. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Prohibiting public agencies and officials from acquiring, possessing, accessing, or using biometric surveillance systems, or contracting with third parties for such use, unless expressly authorized by law. It also makes any information obtained in violation of this provision inadmissible in legal proceedings. 2. Allowing the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to use facial recognition technology to verify identities when issuing licenses and other documents, but prohibiting the Registrar from allowing other entities to access or use this technology. 3. Permitting the State Police to perform facial recognition searches in limited circumstances, such as to execute a warrant for a violent felony, respond to an emergency, or identify a deceased person. The bill outlines specific requirements for documenting and reporting on such searches. 4. Requiring law enforcement agencies to provide notice to individuals identified through facial recognition searches, with exceptions for delayed notice in certain emergency situations. 5. Mandating that law enforcement agencies and district attorneys make records and information related to facial recognition searches available to criminal defendants and their attorneys. 6. Requiring the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to document and publish annual reports on the use of facial recognition searches by state and federal law enforcement agencies. Overall, this bill aims to establish a regulatory framework for the use of biometric surveillance technologies by public agencies in Massachusetts, balancing public safety and civil liberties.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S47