Cal. Pen. Code § 832.19

Current through the 2023 Legislative Session.
Section 832.19 - Prohibition against use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance in connection with officer cameras
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) "Biometric data" means a physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristic that can be used, singly or in combination with each other or with other information, to establish individual identity.
(2) "Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software or application that performs facial recognition or other biometric surveillance.
(3) "Facial recognition or other biometric surveillance" means either of the following, alone or in combination:
(A) An automated or semiautomated process that captures or analyzes biometric data of an individual to identify or assist in identifying an individual.
(B) An automated or semiautomated process that generates, or assists in generating, surveillance information about an individual based on biometric data.
(4) "Facial recognition or other biometric surveillance" does not include the use of an automated or semiautomated process for the purpose of redacting a recording for release or disclosure outside the law enforcement agency to protect the privacy of a subject depicted in the recording, if the process does not generate or result in the retention of any biometric data or surveillance information.
(5) "Law enforcement agency" means any police department, sheriff's department, district attorney, county probation department, transit agency police department, school district police department, highway patrol, the police department of any campus of the University of California, the California State University, or a community college, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and the Department of Justice.
(6) "Law enforcement officer" means an officer, deputy, employee, or agent of a law enforcement agency.
(7) "Officer camera" means a body-worn camera or similar device that records or transmits images or sound and is attached to the body or clothing of, or carried by, a law enforcement officer.
(8) "Surveillance information" means either of the following, alone or in combination:
(A) Any information about a known or unknown individual, including, but not limited to, a person's name, date of birth, gender, or criminal background.
(B) Any information derived from biometric data, including, but not limited to, assessments about an individual's sentiment, state of mind, or level of dangerousness.
(9) "Use" means either of the following, alone or in combination:
(A) The direct use of a biometric surveillance system by a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency.
(B) A request or agreement by a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency that another law enforcement agency or other third party use a biometric surveillance system on behalf of the requesting officer or agency.
(b) A law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer shall not install, activate, or use any biometric surveillance system in connection with an officer camera or data collected by an officer camera.
(c) In addition to any other sanctions, penalties, or remedies provided by law, a person may bring an action for equitable or declaratory relief in a court of competent jurisdiction against a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer that violates this section.
(d) This section does not preclude a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer from using a mobile fingerprint scanning device during a lawful detention to identify a person who does not have proof of identification if this use is lawful and does not generate or result in the retention of any biometric data or surveillance information.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2023, and as of that date is repealed.

Ca. Pen. Code § 832.19

Added by Stats 2019 ch 579 (AB 1215),s 2, eff. 1/1/2020.