Two U.S. senators seek ban on collecting customer biometric data without consent

FILE PHOTO: Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) speaks to reporters following leaving the Senate floor after delivering a 15 hour speech against Judge Neil Gorsuch on Capitol Hill Washington, D.C., U.S., April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Two U.S. senators are proposing legislation to prohibit private companies from collecting biometric data without consumers and employees' consent.

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said this week he is introducing the reform measure along with independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The effort comes after growing concerns about biometric data collection among private companies, including the use of facial-recognition technology.

The senators cited a recent Reuters investigation into Rite Aid's facial-recognition program among other reports causing alarm about the technology's use.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) arrives for a vote to close debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 25, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago

"We have to fight against a 'big brother' surveillance state that eradicates our privacy and our control of our own information, be it a threat from the government or from private companies," Merkley said in a statement.

The bill is backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Open Technology Institute.

This year, Merkley introduced legislation to impose a moratorium on all federal governmental use of facial-recognition technology until Congress passes a bill outlining specific uses. Congress has held committee hearings on facial recognition, but no legislation has been approved.

(Reporting by David Shepardson. Editing by Gerry Doyle)