BIOMETRICS ARTICLE INDEX FOR 2021 FROM THE BACKGROUND BUZZ |
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January | California: The FTC has issued a proposed settlement with Paravision, taking a position against federal privacy laws pre-empting existing state legislation.
FTC Requires App Developer to Obtain Users’ Express Consent for Use of Facial Recognition
January | California: Everalbum has agreed to an FTC settlement that requires the business to obtain express consent for the use of user’s facial recognition.
Facial Recognition and Other Biometrics Targeted in Data Privacy Legislation, But What Will Feds Do?
January | Washington: The Washington Privacy Act addresses geolocation data and certain biographic characteristics, as well as the use of biometrics for ad targeting.
Digital ID Verification Increasingly Targeted by AI Deepfakes, Advisory Warns
February | National: Digital ID verification has been a target of advanced deepfake software found on the dark web.
New ID and Biometrics Advisory Board, Ethnical AI Alliance Formed by Global Organization
February | National: An advisory board has been formed by the SIA with a mission to “promote the advancement and adoption of innovative biometric and digital ID solutions.”
New York Proposes Biometric Privacy Act with Private Right of Action
February | New York: The Biometric Privacy Act would impose significant compliance requirements for companies handling biometric data.
Temporary Flexibility for I-9 Compliance Extended Again
February | National: ICE has again extended its rules related to I-9 compliance for those businesses working through remote means.
Minneapolis Becomes Latest City to Ban Use of Facial Recognition Technology
March | Minneapolis: The Minneapolis City Council has passed an ordinance that prohibits the city from buying facial recognition technology or using any data derived from it.
Proceeding with Biometric Caution: Illinois Courts to Decide Critical BIPA Issues
March | Illinois: BIPA cases have continued to increase, with employees now asserting employers violate the Act by using timekeeping systems that use “biometric identifiers.”
Illinois Privacy Law Forces $650 Million Class Action Settlement
March | Illinois: Facebook was ordered to pay $650 million in a suit that claimed its practice of tagging people in photos used facial recognition without consent, violating Illinois’ BIPA.
New York Assembly Introduces the Biometric Privacy Act
March | New York: An Act was proposed that would require entities to obtain specific consumer consent for uses of biometric identifiers or biometric information.
Millions of Dollars at Issue in BIPA Appeal in Seventh Circuit
April | Illinois: The Seventh Court of Appeals was expected to weigh in on a case involving whether a plaintiff could “stack” alleged BIPA violations for a windfall recovery.
New York Assembly Introduces the Biometric Privacy Act
April | New York: A group of bipartisan legislators introduced an act that would provide for protection of consumers’ biometric information.
Dos and Don’ts of Using Biometric Data in the Workplace
May | National: Various laws, including Illinois’ BIPA, aim to protect consumers’ biometric information.
U.S. Biometric Laws & Pending Legislation Tracker Link
May | National: The increase in biometric privacy laws, such as Illinois’ BIPA and Arkansas’ PIPA, have led to an increase in class action litigation against employers.
May | Maryland: A bill has been introduced that provides for a private right of action, statutory penalties and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees for misuse of consumers’ biometric information.
Fingerprinting Requirement Could Bring Hiring and Retention Headaches for Providers
July | Connecticut: Healthcare workers that were hired during the pandemic have until July 20 to get fingerprinted for background checks or risk being fired.
July | Illinois: Hundreds of cases have been filed alleging violations of the Illinois BIPA, but employers are still confused about the use of employee biometric data.
Illinois Biometric Act Has Been a Class Action Nightmare, But Things May Get Better
July | Illinois: Two class action cases involving the Illinois BIPA could set the size and pace of future cases that alleged violations of the privacy act.
Integrated Biometrics Adds Touchless Fingerprints with Sciometrics Collaboration
July | National: A collaboration between integrated Biometrics and Sciometrics will enable developers to build high-resolution touchless fingerprint biometrics into smartphones.
InCadence Wins $46.8M Biometrics Contract to Support U.S. State Department Vetting
August | Virginia: InCadence has won a 10-year contract to provide mobile biometrics to the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Identity Assurance System (DSIAS).
NYC Businesses Beware: A New Biometric Law Has Changed the Data Privacy Landscape
August | New York: A new law in New York City imposes two broad mandates on commercial establishments regarding data privacy.
The Illinois Appellate Court Issues Key Ruling on Statute of Limitations in BIPA Class Actions
September | Illinois: An Illinois Appellate Court has made a decision that affects the one-year limitation period, as well as the catch-all five-year limitations period.
Seventh Circuit Sends BIPA Claim Accrual Question to Illinois Supreme Court
December | Illinois: The courts weighed in regarding whether claims asserted under Sections 15(b) and 15(d) of the Illinois BIPA accrue only once or each time an entity collection biometric information.
Seventh Circuit Sends BIPA Claim Accrual Question to Illinois Supreme Court
December | Illinois: A decision was made in a case that involves whether claims asserted under the BIPA accrue only once or each time a private entity collects or discloses biometric information.