H.R. 9800: Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act

This bill would bar federal agencies from buying, using, accessing, operating, or contracting for certain automated surveillance tools that identify, track, or record people.

What kinds of technology would be covered

• Automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, including cameras like Flock Safety cameras.
• Facial recognition technology.
• Biometric identification tools that use characteristics such as fingerprints, iris or retinal scans, voice, gait, or other biological traits.
• Any technology that captures, analyzes, or keeps a person’s image, likeness, or other identifying information for the purpose of persistent or mass surveillance.

Limits on state, local, and Tribal governments

The bill would also say that state, local, and Tribal governments cannot use federal funds to purchase, deploy, operate, access, or contract for the same covered surveillance systems.

What happens if federal agencies already obtained data illegally

• If a federal agency gets data in violation of the bill’s ban, the agency head would have to delete the data within 30 days.
• Any such data could not be used as evidence in court or in an administrative proceeding.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would try to stop the federal government from using certain broad surveillance technologies to monitor people, and it would prevent federal funding from being used by other governments for those same tools. It would also require removal of improperly obtained data and block that data from being used in legal proceedings.

Relevant Companies

• None found