House Oversight Holds First in Series of Facial Recognition Hearings

The House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing May 22 examining the impact of facial recognition technology on citizens’ civil rights and right to privacy. The hearing, which was chaired by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., focused heavily on the biases that can exist within facial recognition technology, and artificial intelligence in general, as well as how facial recognition technology can be used in nefarious ways. The hearing heard from law enforcement, legal experts, privacy rights activists, and civil rights activists. Cummings indicated that this week’s hearing would be the first in a series examining the use of facial recognition technology by both the government and commercial entities.