Jane Wester is reporting for the New York Law Journal a bill introduced January 27 in the state Senate by Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, would prohibit the use of facial recognition technology, as well as some other kinds biometrics surveillance by law enforcement. The measure would also create a task force to examine how to regulate the use of biometric technology in the future. The law would allow police to use DNA and fingerprints to identify people and link them to potential crimes. Hoylman, chair of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, said newer biometric technology like facial recognition “presents a chilling threat to our privacy and civil liberties.” He said the technology “...threatens to end every New Yorker’s ability to walk down the street anonymously." Hoylman said research indicates that facial recognition algorithms struggle to recognize women, people of color, young people and transgender or gender nonconforming people. Attorneys with The Legal Aid Society and the New York Civil Liberties Union praised the proposal, saying that the technology is inaccurate and easily abused. Hoylman said he was specifically concerned by the New York Police Department’s use of facial recognition and an app created by Clearview AI. That app searches internet images to help law enforcement identify people. An NYPD spokeswoman said the department has not reviewed the bill's language but noted the department would be negligent if it did not use facial recognition technology. Read the full story in the New York Law Journal.