HarmonyVote

Initiative Title: Facial Recognition Regulation and Civil Liberties Protection Act

Description:

1. Moratorium on Government Use Until Regulation is Enacted:
   Temporarily ban the use of FRT by law enforcement, immigration authorities, and public agencies until robust legislation and oversight mechanisms are in place.

2. Mandatory Transparency and Impact Assessments:
   Require all entities deploying facial recognition systems to publicly disclose their use, conduct algorithmic impact assessments, and publish bias audits detailing error rates across demographic groups.

3. Informed Consent and Opt-Out Rights:
   Ban covert or non-consensual facial recognition in public and private spaces. Individuals must be informed and allowed to opt out where FRT is used for commercial or administrative purposes.

4. Strict Use Limitations and Purpose Restrictions:
   Restrict FRT use to specific, narrowly defined public safety objectives. Prohibit its application for mass surveillance, emotion detection, or profiling based on race, gender, or political activity.

5. Independent Regulatory Authority:
   Establish a dedicated regulatory body to license FRT use, investigate abuses, and impose penalties. The body should include civil rights advocates, AI experts, and representatives from affected communities.

6. Right to Challenge and Redress:
   Guarantee individuals the right to access records, dispute facial recognition decisions, and seek legal redress if harmed by misidentification or wrongful surveillance.

7. Prohibition of FRT in Sensitive Settings:
   Ban FRT in schools, public transportation, polling stations, and healthcare facilities, unless under strict emergency protocols and with public oversight.

8. Regular Technology Review and Sunset Clauses:
   Mandate periodic reviews of facial recognition systems, requiring technologies to be reapproved every 3–5 years based on compliance with evolving legal and ethical standards.

Possible Outcomes and Implications:

• Protection of Civil Liberties: Prevents mass surveillance and discriminatory misuse of FRT.
• Greater Public Trust in Technology: Transparent rules and accountability foster public confidence and informed debate.
• Reduction in False Arrests and Misidentification: Improves accuracy and fairness, especially for historically marginalized communities.
• Innovation within Ethical Boundaries: Allows FRT to be used responsibly in areas like security and authentication without compromising rights.

Votes: