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Congressional Hearing on Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition

Original title: FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY: EXAMINING ITS USE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

Record date · January 1, 2022

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What This Bill Does

This document is a transcript record of a July 13, 2021, House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing examining how federal and local law enforcement agencies use . The hearing featured testimony from legal experts, policy researchers, and government accountability officials regarding the implications of this technology for public safety and civil liberties.

Why it matters

The hearing serves as a formal record of expert testimony and evidence gathering that informs potential future federal legislation or oversight regarding the regulation of surveillance tools used by police.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Law Enforcement Agencies

These agencies are the primary users of the technology being examined for potential regulatory oversight.

Directly affected

General Public

Individuals are subject to the surveillance practices discussed in the hearing.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on July 13, 2021, by the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • The session focused on the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies.
  • Eight witnesses provided oral and written testimony, including representatives from the GAO, academia, and policy think tanks.
  • Ranking Member Andy Biggs submitted several articles and letters into the record regarding FBI and Capitol Police surveillance activities.
Show all 5 facts
  • The hearing record includes testimony from experts on civil rights, technology policy, and public safety administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
To examine how law enforcement agencies use and to discuss the associated policy, privacy, and civil rights implications.
Who testified at the hearing?
Witnesses included officials from the GAO, law professors, policy counsel from civil rights organizations, and experts from research foundations.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Surveillance Oversight

The hearing highlights a shift toward increased congressional scrutiny of how law enforcement utilizes emerging biometric surveillance tools.

Connected Entities

U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Gretta L. Goodwin and 2 more
OrganizationU.S. House Committee on the Judiciary“The committee overseeing the hearing”Map →
PersonSheila Jackson-Lee“Chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security”Map →
PersonGretta L. Goodwin“Director, Homeland Security and Justice, U.S. Government Accountability Office”Map →
PersonAndy Biggs“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →
PersonRobert Williams“Witness from Farmington Hills, Michigan”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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