The News Tribune
A new Washington state law was supposed to limit the collection of biometric data to protect peoples’ privacy.
But the measure also accidentally banned state prisons from collecting inmates’ fingerprints.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new bill into law Tuesday to fix that oversight.
“This measure is needed to make a technical correction,” said Inslee, a Democrat, while signing House Bill 2213.
The new bill makes a few amendments to an earlier measure Inslee signed to restrict the collection of biometric data by public agencies. Biometric data can include scans of people’s fingerprints, facial geometry, voice patterns, or even a digital record of the unique way they walk.
The earlier bill required government officials to notify people and obtain their consent before collecting their biometric information, and prohibiting agencies from selling that data.
It made an exception for law enforcement agencies such as the Washington State Patrol. But it didn’t extend the same courtesy to limited-authority law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Corrections, which runs the state’s prisons.
The result: The initial law would have prevented prisons — and other facilities such as the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island — from collecting the fingerprints of people detained there.
The measure is part of a package of bills this year that aimed to protect people’s biometric data.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
