SIA Comments To FTC On Benefits Of Facial Recognition Technology

PRESS RELEASE

Alexandria, VA --The Security Industry Association (SIA) submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week, in response to the FTC’s call for comments regarding facial recognition technology. The call for comments came after the FTC held a forum on facial recognition late last year.

Several of SIA’s member companies are involved with the development of facial recognition technology, and the association takes the issue of privacy very seriously. In 2011 SIA developed the Security Industry Association Privacy Framework, which can be found on the on the SIA website under “Letters and Issue Papers” on the SIA Government Relations page (http://www.siaonline.org/government). This framework serves as a privacy guideline for manufacturers, integrators, and distributors of electronic security technologies.

In the comments to the FTC, SIA addressed when privacy could be a concern with facial recognition and when such concerns could be less relevant. SIA also spoke to the many benefits of facial recognition technology not only to commercial enterprises, but more importantly, public safety.

For additional background on the issue of facial recognition, please see the FTC’s broadcast of the forum at http://ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/facefacts/.

The Security Industry Association (www.siaonline.org) is the leading trade group for businesses in the electronic and physical security market. SIA protects and advances its members' interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation on Capitol Hill and throughout the 50 states; producing cutting-edge global market research; creating open industry standards that enable integration; advancing industry professionalism through education and training; opening global market opportunities; and providing sole sponsorship of the ISC Expos, the world's largest security trade shows and conferences. In 2010 SIA acquired Securing New Ground™, a unique conference held annually in New York City where executives, investors and users of security technology meet for unparalleled learning and network opportunities