US biometric surveillance divides state and centre

Subject

Biometric surveillance.

Significance

Governments are collecting, storing and using vast amounts of biometric data, both purposefully and inadvertently, as they deploy smart surveillance technologies.

Impacts

• Democratic-leaning states are more likely to be conscious of potential data misuse.
• Nationwide protections await a federal privacy law.
• Funding pressures will lead many states to seek technological solutions to law enforcement problems.