HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1654

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Innovation, Technology & Economic Development

Appropriations

Title: An act relating to the procurement and use of facial recognition technology by government entities in Washington state and privacy rights relating to facial recognition technology.

Brief Description: Concerning the procurement and use of facial recognition technology by government entities in Washington state and privacy rights relating to facial recognition technology.

Sponsors: Representatives Ryu, Shea, Morris, Valdez, Kloba, Fitzgibbon, Appleton, Frame and Tarleton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Innovation, Technology & Economic Development: 2/6/19, 2/22/19 [DPS];

Appropriations: 2/26/19, 2/28/19 [DP2S(w/o sub ITED)].

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

  • Prohibits a law enforcement officer from using the results of a facial recognition system as the sole basis for establishing probable cause in a criminal investigation.

  • Provides that the results of a facial recognition system may be used together with other information and evidence to establish probable cause in a criminal investigation.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hudgins, Chair; Kloba, Vice Chair; Smith, Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Morris, Slatter, Tarleton, Van Werven and Wylie.

Staff: Yelena Baker (786-7301).

Background:

Facial Recognition Technology.

Facial recognition is one of several biometric technologies which identify individuals by measuring and analyzing their physiological or behavioral characteristics. Facial recognition generally works by capturing an image, using an algorithm to create a faceprint, or a facial template, and then comparing the captured image to a database of images or a single image in a database. The more similar the environments in which the images are compared, the better a facial recognition system will perform.

Facial recognition technologies can perform a number of functions, including detecting a face in an image, estimating personal characteristics, verifying identity, and identifying an individual by matching an image of an unknown person to a database of known people. Facial recognition systems can generate two types of errors: false positives (generating an incorrect match) or false negatives (not generating a match where one exists).

Facial recognition is used in a variety of consumer and business applications, including safety and security, secure access, marketing, and customer service. In the public sphere, it is more commonly used for law enforcement and security purposes. Additionally, many states, including Washington, use facial recognition technology to identify cases of driver's license fraud by comparing driver's license photos with other images on file.

State Biometric Data Laws.

State law regulating the collection and use of biometric data by state agencies defines "biometric identifier" as any information, regardless of how it is captured, converted, stored, or shared, based on an individual's retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or scan of hand or face geometry. Several specific types of information are excluded from this definition, including information derived from photographs or physical descriptions, donated organ parts or blood, and information captured in a health care setting.

Unless authorized by law, agencies are prohibited from obtaining a biometric identifier without first providing notice that clearly specifies the purpose and use of the identifier, and obtaining consent specific to the terms of the notice. Agencies that obtain biometric identifiers must establish and follow certain security and privacy policies, including a biometric policy designed to minimize the collection of biometric identifiers. The use and storage of biometric identifiers obtained by agencies must comply with all other applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

Agencies are prohibited from selling biometric identifiers and may only use a biometric identifier consistent with the terms of the notice and consent. Sharing biometric identifiers is permitted only to execute the purposes of the collection consistent with the notice and consent, if sharing is specified in the original consent, or as authorized by law. Biometric identifiers may not be disclosed under the Public Records Act.

Government Surveillance.

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." Article 1, section 7 of the Washington State Constitution provides, "No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his home invaded, without authority of law." These provisions have been interpreted by courts to prohibit the government or a state actor from conducting certain searches of individuals without a warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. This prohibition is enforced by excluding evidence obtained in violation of the warrant requirement, unless an exception applies. However, many kinds of government surveillance are not considered a search requiring a warrant under the federal or state Constitution. This may include surveillance of activities occurring in open fields or in plain view, and sometimes, the government's acquisition of information from a third party. Congress and state legislatures may choose to establish stronger regulations on government surveillance than the floor established by either the federal or state Constitution.

Washington State Academy of Sciences.

Created by the Legislature in 2005, the Washington State Academy of Sciences (Academy) is a nonprofit organization whose principal mission is to investigate, examine, and report on any subject of science referred to the Academy by the Governor or the Legislature. The Governor must provide funding to the Academy for the actual expense of such investigation, examination, and report.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

"Facial recognition" is defined to mean both the automated or semi-automated process by which a person is identified based on the characteristics of their face, and the automated or semi-automated process by which these characteristics are analyzed to determine the individual's sentiment, state of mind, or behavioral propensities, such as the level of dangerousness.

All government entities are required to follow state law regulating the collection and use of biometric data by state agencies until:

State and local government agencies are prohibited from using facial recognition systems to monitor public spaces without probable cause, or to use facial recognition to analyze footage obtained from a police body-worn camera.

Facial recognition data gathered in violation of these provisions is considered unlawfully obtained and is inadmissible as evidence in any trial or proceeding before any authority subject to the jurisdiction of the state of Washington. Unlawfully obtained facial recognition data must be deleted upon discovery.

A person injured by the violations of these provisions may institute proceedings for injunctive relief, declaratory relief, a writ of mandate, or an action to recover actual damages.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill:

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Facial recognition is a game-changing technology that gives the government unprecedented power to automatically identify, locate, and track people based on the images of their faces. This technology poses unique civil rights and civil liberties concerns. Existing law places no limits on the use of facial recognition technology, which is being widely adopted by many agencies in Washington, and which is being used without public knowledge. This bill would allow government use of facial recognition technology only when it can be proven to be unbiased and would create an inclusive task force to have the much-needed discussion about what constitutes acceptable and off-limits uses of this technology.

Facial recognition systems use proprietary programs that are not available for public inspection. Multiple expert studies have shown that facial recognition systems amplify existing biases and are inaccurate at identifying women, people of color, transgender, and gender nonconforming people. Existing field tests of these systems use racially-biased data sets. In one test, a facial recognition system falsely identified 28 members of Congress, most of whom were people of color, as criminals. Facial recognition technology has been disproportionately used to single out Muslims and other people of color for surveillance without a warrant or a suspicion of criminal activity. The lack of resources for law enforcement is understandable, but using flawed technology that produces false positives would drain law enforcement resources even further.

Even an unbiased face surveillance system alters people's willingness to go about their lives in public or to exercise their constitutional rights because people will want to avoid the possibility of their speech and identity being subjected to scrutiny in public places.

(Opposed) Law enforcement agencies struggle to provide safety to Washingtonians at the most affordable cost, and use they facial recognition technology as a public safety tool. A match by a facial recognition system is used as an investigatory lead, similar to an anonymous tip. Data gathered by facial recognition technology is essential to identifying criminals who commit crimes across different jurisdictions. Discrimination and bias are serious issues in the underlying algorithms.

(Other) In 2012 the Legislature authorized the Department of Licensing (DOL) to use facial recognition technology to prevent identity fraud, and placed a number on safeguards on how the data may be used and shared. Any potential matches are reviewed by staff who have received special training; anyone flagged after staff review is given an opportunity to prove that no identity fraud is occurring. The federal Department of Homeland Security requires the use of facial recognition technology in issuing driver's licenses in order to comply with the security standards set forth in the REAL ID Act. If the DOL is not exempt from the provisions of this bill, it would be unable to issue enhanced driver's licenses.

Facial recognition technology has a number of positive uses, such as reuniting missing children with their families and making passport control more efficient. Regulation of facial recognition systems should be calibrated so as to continue positive uses of the technology and to limit the potential for harmful uses. This bill does not achieve that objective because it blocks many positive uses of facial recognition technology.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Ryu, prime sponsor; Jevan Hutson, Os Keyes, and Katherine Pratt, University of Washington; Shankar Narayan, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington; and Masih Fouladi, Council on American-Islamic Relations.

(Opposed) James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; and Brad Tower, Community Bankers of Washington.

(Other) Beau Perschbacher, Department of Licensing; and Natasha Crampton, Microsoft.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Innovation, Technology & Economic Development. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Jinkins, Kraft, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Senn, Springer, Stanford, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tharinger and Ybarra.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Macri, Ryu and Tarleton.

Staff: Meghan Morris (786-7119).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Innovation, Technology & Economic Development:

The second substitute bill strikes the underlying provisions of the substitute bill, but maintains the definitions of "facial recognition" and "facial recognition system." The definition of "law enforcement officer" is added to mean a general authority Washington peace officer, a limited authority Washington peace officer, and a specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020.

A law enforcement officer may not use the results of a facial recognition system as the sole basis for establishing probable cause in a criminal investigation. However, the results of a facial recognition system may be used together with other information and evidence to establish probable cause in a criminal investigation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Second Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Facial recognition technologies are being rapidly adopted, but there are no checks or balances. This bill is important to pass before face surveillance technology alters our society and is a good first step to ensure appropriate safeguards. The alternative approach championed and passed unanimously by the House Innovation, Technology, and Economic Development Committee basically allows face surveillance to be used by the public and private sectors with little or no restrictions. This bill version should move forward instead.

Facial recognition is a game-changing technology allowing government entities unprecedented power to surveil individuals going about their daily lives and engaging in constitutionally protected activities. That technology repeatedly demonstrates to be less accurate with respect to people of color, trans-gender, and gender-nonconforming people, and others, yet it is being rapidly adopted by public agencies. In Washington, an American Civil Liberties Union's public disclosure request shows that dozens of agencies have acquired or are considering acquiring face surveillance systems, and virtually none of them have obtained public approval or even written substantive rules around the use of those systems. This bill is an important vehicle to begin the discussion around facial recognition technology. This is a common-sense step to ensure that the technology is bias-free, with a task force to discuss its impacts.

Technology vendors can operate for profit rather than for Washington values such as freedom, democracy, and equity. While these technology vendors have every incentive to reassure the public that their technology will not be misused, these vendors will not self-regulate. It is our state government, not third-party vendors, who will ultimately be held responsible for the failings and harms of facial recognition systems deployed by state agencies. Without adequate transparency, accountability, and oversight, facial recognition technology risks eviscerating the privacy of Washingtonians, as well as introducing and reinforcing unfair practices in law enforcement. It is not an overstatement to say our democracy and the future of a free society is at stake in this debate. Let us not lose freedoms to technology before what is happening is understood. Lessons need to be learned from history. The voices of vulnerable communities need to be heard, and the pause button needs to be pushed before it is too late.  

The fiscal note is driven by the Department of Licensing (DOL), suggesting that the state would have to stop using facial recognition and put the DOL out of compliance with the Real ID Act. However, the bill no longer contains the moratorium on government use.

(Opposed) There are three major issues with this bill. First, the bill references procurement procedures, but the reference for those procedures is missing. Second, the bill says agencies are not allowed to procure without a report from the Washington Academy of Sciences, but that is a private company, which is problematic. A bill should not hinge the government's ability to acquire certain technology on the actions of a private entity. Third, there should not be language prohibiting facial recognition from being used as evidence in a criminal trial. Some companies, regardless of profit, are very proud of the tools that they provide to law enforcement for public safety.  This technology is on the cutting edge, and there should not be limits on the protection of citizens. This technology puts Washington on the forefront of fighting crimes such as human trafficking.

Democracy and the future of our society is alive and well. One of the beautiful things about both the federal and state constitutions is that they are not technology-specific. There is no emergency for this bill to address. The Washington Constitution says no person shall be disturbed in their private affairs or their home without authority of law, but it does not say except for facial recognition technology. There are notions in the bill that create a reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place, but that goes against about 200 years of constitutional law. This violates the long-standing principle of plain view, which is taught to every single law enforcement officer in the state. This is a fundamental shift against the interests of public safety.

There are areas of agreement. Facial recognition technology is not as accurate for certain physical characteristics of people which is an issue of concern. However, there is middle ground to be had such as how facial recognition technology is used and the results that come of it.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Eric González, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington; and Jevan Hutson, University of Washington School of Law.

(Opposed) Mark Streuli, Motorola Solutions; and James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.