Posts by Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations, Security Industry Association
As Cities Face Violent Crime Surge, Tide Is Changing on Use of Facial Recognition
New Orleans Reverses Decision to Ban Facial Recognition as Law Enforcement Faces High Murder Rate Updated July 29, 2022 On Thursday, July 21, the city council of New Orleans, Louisiana, approved an ordinance that restores use of facial recognition technology tools to aid criminal investigations by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), though under new…
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U.S. States and Cities Rethinking Bans, Setting Rules for Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition
On April 27, 2022, a bill was enacted in Virginia to replace the state’s complete ban on local law enforcement use of facial recognition technology with a comprehensive set of rules for its use. Virginia is only the latest and largest jurisdiction where policymakers are rethinking blanket bans and seeking to establish guardrails ensuring the…
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Examples of Successful Use of Facial Recognition in Virginia
As demonstrated throughout its 30+-year history of development, facial recognition technology offers tremendous benefits to society when used effectively and responsibly. The benefits of facial recognition are proven and growing, through a wide range of vastly different applications. For example, in the United States, the technology has been used for more than a decade to detect…
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Virginia’s New Rules for Facial Recognition and What They Mean
Updated May 6, 2022 On April 27, 2022, S.B. 741 was enacted in Virginia, replacing the state’s complete ban on local law enforcement use of facial recognition technology with the most stringent law in the country regulating its use. Introduced by Virginia Delegate Jay Leftwich (R-Chesapeake) and Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), the measure to establish…
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What the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Means for Security and Life Safety Companies
Dear Security Industry Association (SIA) members, On Nov. 15, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. This infrastructure bill is the most significant U.S. investment in infrastructure in decades and includes $550 billion in funding far above baseline for many existing highway, transit, rail and other programs. SIA commends the president…
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Congress Passes Bill Requiring FCC to Limit New Authorizations for Chinese Equipment, Prohibiting Revocation
Updated Oct. 29, 2021 On Oct. 20, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3919, the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, in a nearly unanimous vote. The bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.,) would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules it recently proposed prohibiting “equipment…
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What SIA Members Need to Know About Federal Contractor Employee Vaccination Rules
With the Dec. 8 deadline for federal contractors and many subcontractor employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 fast approaching, affected security industry suppliers are building and implementing compliance programs. This SIA video roundtable discussion featuring Diz Locaria, partner at Venable, LLP; Lynn de Séve, founder and president of GSA Schedules, Inc.; and Fabiola Francisco,…
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What the Buy American Rule Changes Could Mean for the Security Industry
The second major change to Buy American rules within the past year is now under consideration by the federal government. The last major rule, finalized in January, implemented changes proposed under an executive order by the Trump administration, including, among other provisions, the removal of an exemption for commercial items if they contain more than…
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Most State Legislatures Have Rejected Bans and Severe Restrictions on Facial Recognition
Facial recognition technology and related legislation have been a hot topic in the media and in policy discussions around the country. The Security Industry Association (SIA) is advocating nationwide for policies ensuring responsible use and sensible privacy protections, while urging rejection of blanket bans or unbalanced restrictions of these technologies that ignore the clear benefits…
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Summary of American Rescue Plan COVID-Relief Stimulus
On March 11, President Biden signed his administration’s first major piece of legislation, the American Rescue Plan, which appropriates $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief to aid small businesses, public schools, state governments and government contractors impacted by COVID-19. President Biden’s latest stimulus follows his pledge to provide robust relief to the American people and business…
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