Senators demand ICE cease use of facial recognition app

Senators Edward J. Markey, Ron Wyden, and Jeff Merkley have urged the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop using the "Mobile Fortify" smartphone app, which uses biometric identification, including facial recognition. The lawmakers expressed concerns that facial recognition technology is unreliable and could have a chilling effect on constitutionally protected activities, such as protests or rallies. They requested answers from the agency by October 2 regarding the app's development, deployment, accuracy testing, legal basis, and current agency policies governing its use. The letter was also signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Chris Van Holle, Tina Smith, Bernie Sanders, and Adam Schiff. The issue of facial recognition technology remains controversial, with a plurality of Americans supporting its use in law enforcement and the workplace, subject to certain limitations. However, without federal regulation, states have been left to craft their own guardrails, with some, like Illinois, allowing individuals to sue for damages over the misuse of biometric data.