Contact Congress about H.R. 1404: Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2023
Federal agencies could not use facial recognition or similar remote tracking tools unless Congress clearly allows it. States and cities could lose Byrne public safety grants if they do not set similar limits.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2023 is a House bill in Congress.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal agencies, federal law enforcement, and people whose faces, voices, walking patterns, or other body traits could be scanned from a distance. It also affects state and local governments that want Byrne public safety grant money. Technology vendors and researchers could feel the effects too, but the bill still lets the National Institute of Standards and Technology test and study these tools.
Why this matters: This matters because facial recognition and similar tools can identify people from far away, often without their knowledge. The bill would stop most federal use unless Congress sets clear rules first. It could also change police and public safety practices in states and cities that rely on Byrne grant money. The bill may protect privacy and civil rights, but it could also limit tools that some agencies use for investigations or urgent threats.
Key provisions in H.R. 1404
- Federal agencies and officials could not buy, keep, access, or use biometric surveillance systems in the United States. They also could not use information that came from those systems.
- The bill covers facial recognition, voice recognition, gait recognition, and other tools that identify people from a distance. It does not count fingerprints or palm prints as covered remote biometric recognition.
- Congress could allow a specific use only through a separate law. That law would need clear rules on who can use the tool, why they can use it, what uses are banned, data standards, audits, accuracy, and civil rights protections.
- Federal law enforcement agencies could not use federal money to buy or use biometric surveillance systems. Other federal agencies also could not use unassigned federal funds for those systems.
- The federal government usually could not use information gathered in violation of the ban. This applies in criminal, civil, administrative, and other official proceedings, except cases about violations of this section.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 1404
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 1404
- What is H.R. 1404?
- Federal agencies could not use facial recognition or similar remote tracking tools unless Congress clearly allows it. States and cities could lose Byrne public safety grants if they do not set similar limits.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 1404?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 1404?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 1404 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
