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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 22, 2022 11:22 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank Burns |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Protecting Personal Data from Secret Surveillance |
| Privacy is an unalienable right for all people. Yet, we are constantly fighting against big brother’s watch and intrusion. Companies bombard us endlessly and benefit from the collection and sale of our personal data which includes our search histories and online purchases. Despite this already incessant invasion, we need to prepare for a more vulnerable breach. We need to protect consumers’ most personal data: biometric identifiers. This includes information like fingerprints, face prints, retinal or iris scans, and voiceprint analysis. Without our knowledge or consent, these pieces of our physical identity are being captured in a variety of settings including big tech companies like Meta, formerly Facebook, and TikTok. For example, online retailers and advertisers use facial recognition technology to push their products. If facial recognition picks up that a person looks sad, they will likely receive advertisements for depression medications. There are clear benefits to this technology, but there are frightening downsides – the most frightening being that when biometric data is compromised, it may be impossible to ever retrieve or control again. We can change passwords and computer settings, but we cannot change our biometric identifiers. I urge you to consider supporting my proposal which will take several steps to protect Pennsylvanians’ biometric information. This measure will initiate several requirements on private entities including:
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