Issues & Policy Priorities
SIA’s Government Relations team WORKS DILIGENTLY ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO OUR MEMBERS AND TO THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
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Video: It’s Time to Act on School Security
To stress the importance of investing in K-12 school safety, SIA produced a video with partners from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools and from Safe and Sound Schools. Learn why it’s time to act.
SIA is actively tracking a wide range of issues for our members. Pressing topics include border security, preventing vehicular terrorism, artificial intelligence and school safety.
Airport Security
Safe and secure air travel is the expectation of every passenger, and it is critical that airports are able to update security strategies in response to evolving threats.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Trump administration and Congress have recognized the significance of AI and machine learning across many sectors by creating working groups such as the White House Select Committee on AI and the Congressional AI Caucus to learn how the federal government can foster, and not stifle, development and use of these technologies.
Body-Worn Cameras
SIA supports efforts to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies for the implementation of body-worn camera systems. Learn more about this timely issue.
Border Security
SIA supports ensuring that any legislation seeking to improve security at U.S. borders provides for the deployment of modern security technology to its full potential in conjunction with other measures and in a manner that is most cost effective and beneficial for U.S. taxpayers.
Cybersecurity
The security industry fulfills a crucial role in cybersecurity and national security by providing systems that manage credentials for federal workers and contractors and control access to federal facilities and computer networks.
Facial Recognition
For many years, use of advanced facial recognition technology has benefited Americans in countless but underpublicized ways – helping to find missing children, fight human trafficking, find dangerous criminals, bring sexual predators to justice and thwart identity thieves. Clearly, the benefits of facial recognition technology vastly outweigh the risks.
Fair & Open Trade
SIA has a deep and increasing concern with the direction of U.S. trade policy due to the willingness of the current administration to use tariffs as a major policy tool in disputes with our trading partners, and the negative economic effects that could result from escalating tariffs.
Patent Reform
SIA supports legislation that cracks down on abuses by patent trolls, which thwart technological innovation and cost manufacturers millions of dollars each year.
Preventing Vehicular Terrorism
Unfortunately, public areas and places where crowds gather have become targets for vehicular attacks around the world, and recently in the U.S. The strategic placement of security barriers and other systems in key locations is critical to protecting the public but requires significant security and engineering expertise to deploy effectively.
School Safety
SIA is committed to promoting safe and secure learning environments for our children, where security technology is a vital component.
Technology Workforce Development
SIA is engaged in efforts to grow the security talent pipeline by working with community colleges, creating outreach programs for students and young professionals and providing information about security industry careers – which are increasingly IT centric as the information technology and security disciplines converge.
Telecommunications
SIA advocates that the federal government should play a key role in fostering investment in the communications infrastructure that supports the Internet of Things and collaboration between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers to deployment.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS
Autonomous robotics are increasingly relied upon for smarter security by complementing – not replacing – traditional security practitioners, guards and other personnel and systems.
Get Involved in SIA Government Relations
Our active committees help SIA members like you shape public policy and be the first to know about regulations and legislation that could impact your business.
What NIST Data Shows About Facial Recognition and Demographics
In December 2019, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published the most comprehensive report to date on the performance of facial recognition algorithms – the core component of facial recognition technology – across race, gender and other demographic groups. The most significant takeaway from the NIST report is that it confirms current facial…
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SIA Testifies on Facial Recognition Before New Jersey Assembly
As part of the Security Industry Association’s (SIA’s) advocacy work on the issue of facial recognition, Drake Jamali, SIA’s manager of government relations, testified on Feb. 3 before the New Jersey Assembly of Legislators’ Committee on Science, Innovation and Technology. Jamali’s testimony to the committee, led by Chairman Andrew Zwicker and Vice-Chair Linda Carter, provided…
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Development of Artificial Intelligence, Facial Recognition Should Not Be Impeded, White House Official Says
One of the top science advisors in the White House cautioned at a recent event in Washington, D.C., against tightly restricting the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. “I’m a firm believer that it is unethical to not use AI if it can lead to important benefits,” Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer Lynne Parker said.…
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Lawmakers Note Agreement, Differences on Data Privacy
At a Jan. 28 event in Washington, D.C., a Republican senator said that data privacy is his “favorite issue,” two Democratic congresswomen said there is “a sense of urgency” regarding the topic and a Republican congresswoman said a bipartisan bill “needs to happen.” But none of the lawmakers indicated that a bill is likely to…
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