Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act

GoodIntroducedH.R.9800 (119th)United StatesLow threat
Introduced; referred to the House Oversight Committee
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Became Law

Stage 1 of 4: Introduced

Would bar federal agencies from using automated license-plate readers, facial recognition, biometric identification, and other systems built for persistent or mass surveillance.

Latest update

Reclaim The Net covered state action against Flock license-plate readers

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What it does

H.R.9800 would prohibit federal agencies from purchasing, deploying, operating, accessing, or contracting for automated systems that identify, track, or record people through license-plate recognition, facial recognition, biometric identifiers, or technology that captures and retains personally identifiable information for persistent or mass surveillance. State, local, and Tribal governments could not use federal funds for the same systems. Federal agencies would have to delete improperly obtained data within 30 days, and information collected in violation of the prohibition would be inadmissible in court and administrative proceedings.

What’s at stake

Networked cameras and biometric systems turn routine movement through public space into a searchable history. A federal ban would remove a major customer and funding source from that infrastructure, limit agencies’ ability to query privately operated networks such as Flock Safety, and prevent unlawfully collected records from becoming evidence. The bill does not restrict surveillance purchased entirely with state or local funds, leaving a substantial part of the national camera network outside its reach.

Our take

We support the bill’s direct prohibition on federal mass-surveillance systems and its refusal to treat public movement as permission for permanent tracking. Congress should preserve the broad technology-neutral language and extend the same protection against state and local systems regardless of their funding source.

Timeline

Introduced

Sponsor

Tim Burchett (R-TN)

Cosponsors (7)

Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Tony Wied (R-WI), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Tom Barrett (R-MI), Michael Cloud (R-TX)

Committee

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

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