OLYMPIA – The House of Representatives voted 91-6 to pass Rep. Jeff Morris’ (D – Mount Vernon) bill to protect high-tech consumer biometric data.
Technology allowing companies to collect biometric data is not limited to science fiction — iris scans, facial recognition and voice recognition technologies already exist, but have yet to be largely used in the commercial and retail industries. House Bill 1094 would establish regulations and limitations on how this information could be collected and used in the future.
“We want businesses to think about these questions before they deploy the technology,” Morris said. “Too often with new technologies we get into a game of cat-and-mouse. This bill allows us to set a standard for how our most personal information may be used in the future.”
Morris’ bill would prevent the collection of biometric identifiers without consent of the individual. After gaining consent from the consumer, the collector could not sell, lease or disclose the data without receiving additional consent. Data includes fingerprints, DNA, hand geometry, palm prints, iris scans, and facial imaging, and behavioral identifiers like voice and gait recognition.
HB 1094 now goes to the Senate for consideration.