CA AB1814: Law enforcement agencies: facial recognition technology.

In one paragraph

California's AB 1814 (2023-24 Regular Session) would add Penal Code section 13661 to bar a law enforcement agency or peace officer from using a facial recognition technology match as the sole basis for probable cause to arrest or search, and bar a judge from granting a warrant application based solely on a match. It passed the Assembly 70-0 but was held under submission in Senate Appropriations on August 15, 2024 and was not passed before the session ended.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: the bill died and never became law. It would have limited police use of facial recognition matches as the sole basis for arrests, searches and warrants.

Key provisions

1. 1Would prohibit a law enforcement agency or peace officer from using a facial recognition technology (FRT) match as the sole basis for probable cause for an arrest or search
2. 2Would prohibit a judge from granting a warrant application based solely on an FRT match
3. 3Would require a peace officer using FRT information to examine results with care and consider that matches could be inaccurate
4. 4Would define FRT as a system that compares a probe image of an unidentified face against a reference photograph database and, based on biometric data, generates possible matches
5. 5Would add Section 13661 to the Penal Code
6. 6Passed the Assembly 70-0 on May 20, 2024; held under submission in Senate Appropriations on August 15, 2024; history ends November 30, 2024 with 'From Senate committee without further action.'

Latest legislative action

Nov 30, 2024. From Senate committee without further action.

Sponsors (showing 5 of 35)

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 6)

Related and companion bills

• California AB1215Law enforcement: facial recognition and other biometric surveillance.