A. 5492 2
interrogation, detention, or even conviction of an innocent person based
on erroneous data.
(d) The largest U.S. supplier of police body cameras has publicly
stated that this technology "is not currently reliable enough to
ethically justify its use," and other major companies working on this
technology have chosen not to offer it for general use until concerns
about the technology's accuracy are resolved.
(e) In addition to accuracy concerns, the continuous use of this tech-
nology for broad, untargeted surveillance purposes constitutes an unac-
ceptable mass violation of privacy and could chill New Yorkers' right to
free speech and freedom of assembly.
(f) In order to protect the personal data, civil rights, civil liber-
ties, and due process rights of all New Yorkers, the use of this tech-
nology by law enforcement should not currently be permitted, and more
study and research should be conducted into the impacts of this technol-
ogy before determining whether it should be authorized for use, and
under what circumstances such use should be permitted.
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-w to
read as follows:
§ 837-W. USE OF BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS PROHIBITED. 1. DEFI-
NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "BIOMETRIC INFORMATION" MEANS ANY MEASURABLE PHYSIOLOGICAL,
BIOLOGICAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AN
INDIVIDUAL PERSON, INCLUDING FACIAL CHARACTERISTICS, FINGERPRINT CHARAC-
TERISTICS, HAND CHARACTERISTICS, EYE CHARACTERISTICS, VOCAL CHARACTER-
ISTICS, AND ANY OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN BE USED, SINGLY
OR IN COMBINATION WITH EACH OTHER OR WITH OTHER INFORMATION, TO ESTAB-
LISH INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY. EXAMPLES OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, FINGERPRINTS, HANDPRINTS, RETINA AND IRIS
PATTERNS, DNA SEQUENCE, VOICE, GAIT, AND FACIAL GEOMETRY.
(B)(I) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE
OR IN COMBINATION:
(1) AN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS BY WHICH A PERSON IS IDEN-
TIFIED OR ATTEMPTED TO BE IDENTIFIED BASED ON THEIR BIOMETRIC INFORMA-
TION, INCLUDING IDENTIFICATION OF KNOWN OR UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS OR
GROUPS; AND/OR
(2) AN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS THAT GENERATES, OR ASSISTS
IN GENERATING, SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL BASED ON
THEIR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION.
(II) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE" SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF AN AUTO-
MATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
(1) REDACTING A RECORDING FOR RELEASE OR DISCLOSURE OUTSIDE A POLICE
AGENCY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF A SUBJECT DEPICTED IN THE RECORDING, IF
THE PROCESS DOES NOT GENERATE OR RESULT IN THE RETENTION OF ANY BIOME-
TRIC INFORMATION OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION;
(2) THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-C OF THIS CHAPTER; OR
(3) THE TAKING, SUBMISSION, AND PROCESSING OF FINGERPRINTS FOR THE
STATE IDENTIFICATION BUREAU, PROVIDED THAT SUCH TAKING, SUBMISSION AND
PROCESSING IS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
(C) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM" MEANS ANY COMPUTER SOFTWARE OR
APPLICATION THAT PERFORMS BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE
THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX OR THE FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION
PORTION OF THE STATE AUTOMATED BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.
A. 5492 3
(D) "POLICE AGENCY", "POLICE OFFICER" AND "PEACE OFFICER" SHALL HAVE
THE SAME MEANINGS AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF
THIS ARTICLE.
(E) "SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE OR
IN COMBINATION:
(I) ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A KNOWN OR UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, A PERSON'S NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, GENDER, AGGREGATED
LOCATION DATA, OR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND; AND/OR
(II) ANY INFORMATION DERIVED FROM BIOMETRIC INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, ASSESSMENTS ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENTIMENT, STATE OF
MIND OR LEVEL OF DANGEROUSNESS.
(F) "USE" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION:
(I) THE DIRECT USE OF A BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM BY A POLICE
AGENCY, POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER; AND/OR
(II) A REQUEST BY A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER THAT A POLICE
AGENCY OR OTHER THIRD PARTY USE A BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ON
BEHALF OF THE REQUESTING ENTITY.
2. NO POLICE AGENCY, POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER SHALL ACQUIRE,
POSSESS, ACCESS, INSTALL, ACTIVATE OR USE ANY BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE
SYSTEM, OR ANY BIOMETRIC INFORMATION OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION DERIVED
FROM THE USE OF A BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM BY ANY OTHER ENTITY,
WHILE IN THE COURSE OF THEIR JOB DUTIES OR WITH REGARD TO ANY INFORMA-
TION OBTAINED, PROCESSED, OR ACCESSED IN THE COURSE OF THOSE DUTIES.
3. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER SANCTIONS, PENALTIES OR REMEDIES PROVIDED
BY LAW, A PERSON MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR EQUITABLE OR DECLARATORY RELIEF
IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AGAINST A POLICE AGENCY, POLICE
OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION.
4. THIS SECTION DOES NOT PRECLUDE A POLICE AGENCY, POLICE OFFICER OR
PEACE OFFICER FROM:
(A) LAWFULLY USING A MOBILE FINGERPRINT SCANNING DEVICE DURING A
LAWFUL DETENTION TO IDENTIFY A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE PROOF OF IDEN-
TIFICATION IF A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO
ARREST SUCH PERSON OR TO ISSUE TO AND SERVE UPON SUCH PERSON AN APPEAR-
ANCE TICKET, PROVIDED THAT ANY BIOMETRIC OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION
RETAINED THROUGH THE USE OF SUCH DEVICE MAY BE USED SOLELY FOR THE
PURPOSES PERMITTED IN THIS PARAGRAPH OR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLICITLY
AUTHORIZED BY LAW;
(B) ACCESSING DNA COMPARISONS BETWEEN FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND DESIGNATED
OFFENDERS, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINE-
TY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, THROUGH THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX
PURSUANT TO SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-C OF THIS CHAPTER;
(C) ACCESSING FINGERPRINT COMPARISONS USING THE STATEWIDE AUTOMATED
BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROUTINE BOOKING OR
CRIME SCENE COMPARISONS; OR
(D) USING ANY LAWFULLY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM THAT PROCESSES BIOME-
TRIC INFORMATION SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF
MEMBERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR OTHER AFFILIATED STAFF OF THE
POLICE AGENCY IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH PERSONS ARE PERMITTED
TO ACCESS INFORMATION, GOODS, MATERIALS, AREAS, OR OTHER POSSESSIONS OR
PROPERTY BELONGING TO OR UNDER THE CUSTODY OF THE POLICE AGENCY.
§ 3. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 235 to read
as follows:
§ 235. USE OF BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS PROHIBITED. 1. DEFI-
NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
A. 5492 4
(A) "BIOMETRIC INFORMATION" MEANS ANY MEASURABLE PHYSIOLOGICAL,
BIOLOGICAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AN
INDIVIDUAL PERSON, INCLUDING FACIAL CHARACTERISTICS, FINGERPRINT CHARAC-
TERISTICS, HAND CHARACTERISTICS, EYE CHARACTERISTICS, VOCAL CHARACTER-
ISTICS, AND ANY OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN BE USED, SINGLY
OR IN COMBINATION WITH EACH OTHER OR WITH OTHER INFORMATION, TO ESTAB-
LISH INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY. EXAMPLES OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, FINGERPRINTS, HANDPRINTS, RETINA AND IRIS
PATTERNS, DNA SEQUENCE, VOICE, GAIT, AND FACIAL GEOMETRY.
(B) (I) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE
OR IN COMBINATION:
(1) AN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS BY WHICH A PERSON IS IDEN-
TIFIED OR ATTEMPTED TO BE IDENTIFIED BASED ON THEIR BIOMETRIC INFORMA-
TION, INCLUDING IDENTIFICATION OF KNOWN OR UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS OR
GROUPS; AND/OR
(2) AN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS THAT GENERATES, OR ASSISTS
IN GENERATING, SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL BASED ON
THEIR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION.
(II) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE" SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF AN AUTO-
MATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
(1) REDACTING A RECORDING FOR RELEASE OR DISCLOSURE OUTSIDE THE STATE
POLICE TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF A SUBJECT DEPICTED IN THE RECORDING, IF
THE PROCESS DOES NOT GENERATE OR RESULT IN THE RETENTION OF ANY BIOME-
TRIC INFORMATION OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION;
(2) THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-C OF THIS CHAPTER; OR
(3) THE TAKING, SUBMISSION, AND PROCESSING OF FINGERPRINTS FOR THE
STATE IDENTIFICATION BUREAU, PROVIDED THAT SUCH TAKING, SUBMISSION AND
PROCESSING IS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
(C) "BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM" MEANS ANY COMPUTER SOFTWARE OR
APPLICATION THAT PERFORMS BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE.
(D) "SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE OR
IN COMBINATION:
(I) ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A KNOWN OR UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, A PERSON'S NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, GENDER, AGGREGATED
LOCATION DATA, OR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND; AND/OR
(II) ANY INFORMATION DERIVED FROM BIOMETRIC INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, ASSESSMENTS ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENTIMENT, STATE OF
MIND OR LEVEL OF DANGEROUSNESS.
(E) "USE" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION:
(I) THE DIRECT USE OF A BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM BY A MEMBER OF
THE STATE POLICE; AND/OR
(II) A REQUEST BY A MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE THAT A POLICE AGENCY OR
OTHER THIRD PARTY USE A BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ON BEHALF OF THE
REQUESTING ENTITY.
2. NO MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE SHALL ACQUIRE, POSSESS, ACCESS,
INSTALL, ACTIVATE OR USE ANY BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, OR ANY BIOM-
ETRIC INFORMATION OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION DERIVED FROM THE USE OF A
BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM BY ANY OTHER ENTITY, WHILE IN THE COURSE
OF THEIR JOB DUTIES OR WITH REGARD TO ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED, PROC-
ESSED, OR ACCESSED IN THE COURSE OF THOSE DUTIES.
3. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER SANCTIONS, PENALTIES OR REMEDIES PROVIDED
BY LAW, A PERSON MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR EQUITABLE OR DECLARATORY RELIEF
IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AGAINST A MEMBER OF THE STATE
POLICE THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION.
4. THIS SECTION DOES NOT PRECLUDE A MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE FROM:
A. 5492 5
(A) LAWFULLY USING A MOBILE FINGERPRINT SCANNING DEVICE DURING A
LAWFUL DETENTION TO IDENTIFY A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE PROOF OF IDEN-
TIFICATION IF A MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO
ARREST SUCH PERSON OR TO ISSUE TO AND SERVE UPON SUCH PERSON AN APPEAR-
ANCE TICKET, PROVIDED THAT ANY BIOMETRIC OR SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION
RETAINED THROUGH THE USE OF SUCH DEVICE MAY BE USED SOLELY FOR THE
PURPOSES PERMITTED IN THIS PARAGRAPH OR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLICITLY
AUTHORIZED BY LAW;
(B) ACCESSING DNA COMPARISONS BETWEEN FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND DESIGNATED
OFFENDERS, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINE-
TY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER, THROUGH THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX
PURSUANT TO SECTION NINE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-C OF THIS CHAPTER;
(C) ACCESSING FINGERPRINT COMPARISONS USING THE STATEWIDE AUTOMATED
BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROUTINE BOOKING OR
CRIME SCENE COMPARISONS; OR
(D) USING ANY LAWFULLY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM THAT PROCESSES BIOME-
TRIC INFORMATION SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF
MEMBERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR OTHER AFFILIATED STAFF OF THE
STATE POLICE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH PERSONS ARE PERMITTED TO
ACCESS INFORMATION, GOODS, MATERIALS, AREAS, OR OTHER POSSESSIONS OR
PROPERTY BELONGING TO OR UNDER THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE POLICE.
§ 4. Biometric surveillance regulation task force. 1. (a) There is
hereby established the task force on the regulation of biometric
surveillance, which shall consist of twelve members as follows:
(a) the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services or
his or her designee;
(b) the superintendent of state police or his or her designee;
(c) the commissioner of the New York city police department or his or
her designee; and
(d) three members appointed by the governor, two members appointed by
the temporary president of the senate, two members appointed by the
speaker of the assembly, one member appointed by the minority leader of
the senate, and one member appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly, each of which shall have expertise and experience related to
at least one of the following fields, disciplines, or areas:
(i) data privacy and data security;
(ii) civil rights, civil liberties, and due process and procedural
rights;
(iii) the use and function of both existing and emerging biometric
surveillance technology;
(iv) legal representation of low-income individuals and/or tenants; or
(v) criminal defense.
(b) The chairperson of the task force shall be one of the governor's
appointees, whom the governor shall so designate.
(c) The task force shall meet as often as is necessary, but no less
than three times per year, and at the call of the chairperson. Meetings
may be held via teleconference. All members shall be provided with writ-
ten notice reasonably in advance of each meeting with date, time and
location of such meeting.
(d) Any vacancies on the task force shall be filled in the manner
provided for in the initial appointment.
(e) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
(f) The task force is authorized to hold public hearings and meetings
and to consult with any relevant stakeholders it deems appropriate or
A. 5492 6
necessary to seek assistance, data, or other information that will
enable the task force to carry out its powers and duties.
(g) The division of criminal justice services shall provide the task
force with such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the task
force to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other agen-
cies of the state or subdivisions thereof may, at the request of the
chairperson of the task force, provide the task force with such facili-
ties, assistance, and data as will enable the task force to carry out
its powers and duties.
2. The task force shall:
(a) Examine the current and proposed use of biometric surveillance
systems, as such term is defined pursuant to section 837-w of the execu-
tive law, by governments and/or law enforcement, both in the United
States and abroad;
(b) Examine current and proposed laws, rules, regulations, programs,
and policies relating to the use of biometric surveillance systems;
(c) Examine currently available biometric surveillance systems or
similar technology, and evaluate their effectiveness, efficacy, and
accuracy, provided that such evaluation shall include the use of repre-
sentative datasets according to targeted populations, and disaggregated
testing for demographic subgroups by age, gender identity, and race;
(d) Evaluate the potential benefits and harms of the use of biometric
surveillance systems, taking into account and analyzing the impact of
the use of such systems on minorities, women, young people, seniors,
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individ-
uals, and individuals with disabilities;
(e) Evaluate whether law enforcement should be permitted to use biome-
tric surveillance systems, and if it is the judgment of the task force
that such use should be permitted, the task force shall propose a
comprehensive framework of recommendations for legislation, regulations
and standards regarding the use of such systems by law enforcement,
including, but not limited to:
(i) permissible uses and purposes for use of biometric surveillance
systems by law enforcement;
(ii) prohibited uses and purposes for use of biometric surveillance
systems by law enforcement;
(iii) minimum standards for accuracy that biometric surveillance
systems must achieve in order to be authorized for use by law enforce-
ment, and auditing requirements to ensure compliance with those stand-
ards;
(iv) standards for use, management, and protection of information
derived from the use of biometric surveillance systems by law enforce-
ment, including, but not limited to data retention, sharing, access, and
audit trails;
(v) rigorous protections for due process, privacy, free speech and
association, and racial, gender, and religious equity;
(vi) training requirements for law enforcement personnel authorized to
use biometric surveillance systems;
(vii) procedures to address instances in which a person is wrongfully
targeted, arrested or interrogated based on inaccurate information
derived from the use of a biometric surveillance system; and
(viii) disclosure requirements for broad public transparency as well
as discovery procedures.
3. (a) No sooner than January 1, 2025, and no later than January 1,
2026, the task force shall transmit a report to the governor, the tempo-
rary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority
A. 5492 7
leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the assembly detailing
its findings and recommendations pursuant to subdivision two of this
section.
(b) No later than ten days after the task force transmits such report
to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of
the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader
of the assembly, the division of criminal justice services shall make
such report available on its website.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that section
four of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed 60 days after tran-
smission of the report of the findings and recommendations of the task
force to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speak-
er of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority
leader of the assembly, as provided in paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of
section four of this act. Provided, however, that the commissioner of
the department of criminal justice services shall notify the legislative
bill drafting commission upon the transmission of the report of the
findings of the task force, as provided in paragraph (a) of subdivision
3 of section four of this act, in order that the commission may maintain
an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the
laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the
provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the
public officers law.