State Preemption: Facial Recognition Software

What’s happening? Virginia legislators sent their Governor legislation that would require a local law enforcement agency to receive approval from the State Attorney General before being authorized to use facial recognition software. HB 2031 (2021 | VA)

Why is this important? The data repeatedly shows that facial recognition software misidentifies people who are Black, brown, and women.

How will this be important? Let’s boil this down to a post-COVID, post- Black Lives Matter world where paying attention to racial disparities in our actions, conscious or otherwise, is up for attention and review. Add in a pinch of law enforcement agencies using facial recognition without the knowledge of their mayors or city councils.

Virginian Pilot | Virginia Approves Limits on Police Use of Facial Recognition