A new law just passed in Erie County that supporters say will protect your privacy, but critics warn it could affect tens of thousands of local businesses.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Legislature on Thursday passed a new law banning businesses from collecting or selling biometric data, a move supporters say will protect residents’ privacy while critics warn it could impact tens of thousands of local businesses.
The measure, known as the Biometrics Transparency and Privacy Act, was approved Thursday. It prohibits companies from collecting, storing, or selling biometric identifiers such as facial recognition data, fingerprints, and eye scans.
The legislation applies broadly to businesses across Erie County. Lawmakers backing the bill say it is designed to safeguard personal information and prevent misuse of sensitive data.
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“We’re making a clear distinction between security and collecting biometric data and storing your data and collecting a database and then who knows what happened with that then it gets sold,” said Legislator Lawrence Dupre, a Democrat who represents District 1. “Our job is to protect the citizens of Erie County and that’s what we’ve done with this bill.”
However, some legislators raised concerns about how the law could affect businesses, including smaller operations that rely on security technology.
“According to census data, 60,000 to 90,000 businesses in Erie County, this is going to affect,” said Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, a Republican who represents District 10.
“This isn’t just about big box stores. This is also about mom and pops that are, you know, using Ring cameras, that are using security footage.”
The debate highlights a divide among county leaders over balancing privacy protections with potential economic and operational impacts on businesses.