Yesterday we asked you to fight to keep amendments that improved SB 6280, a WA bill regulates public and private use of facial recognition technology. It is now going to the Senate floor, but without these crucial amendments. A coalition of Indivisible groups now oppose the final version of the bill because it guts enforcement, exempts certain private security firms, and does not include a moratorium.
Please call or email your Washington State Senator and Representatives and urge them to vote “no” on SB 6280. The legislative session ends today 3/12 and we do not know when the votes on this bill will take place, so we need you to call NOW. A script for your calls and emails is set forth below.
The quickest and easiest way to contact your representatives is at this site: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/6280. Under “Verify your legislative district,” type in your address and click on the “Verify District” button. Check the boxes next to your 3 legislators, fill in your contact information, click the Oppose button and type in your comment. When done, click on the “Send Comment” button at the bottom of the page.
Here’s a comment you can use or modify:
“I am [YOUR NAME] and I live in zip code [YOUR ZIP CODE]. Please vote “no” on SB 6280, the bill addressing facial recognition technology. This bill does not contain the strong provisions required to address the defects and racism inherent in the existing technology. The legislation fails to protect our most vulnerable populations from being abused and wrongly surveilled by this technology. The final bill also removes important provisions from the House version, including the requirement that existing deployments be suspended until they meet the bill’s requirements. The only sensible response to the inaccuracy, bias and potential for abuse posed by current facial recognition technology is to impose a moratorium on its deployment.”
To call, use the Washington State Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing Impaired 800.833. 6388).
They will ask for your address, and take a message for your representatives.
