Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2021
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Apr 8, 2021)
Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2021
This bill establishes a federal framework to govern the use of computational forensic software. The term computational forensic software means software that relies on an automated computational process to assess evidence in a criminal investigation (e.g., facial recognition technology).
The framework contains various elements, including the following:
- requirements for the establishment of testing standards and a testing program for computational forensic software,
- requirements for the use of computational forensic software by federal law enforcement agencies and related entities (e.g., crime labs),
- a ban on the use of trade secret evidentiary privilege to prevent federal criminal defendants from accessing evidence collected using computational forensic software or information about the software (e.g., source code), and
- limits on the admissibility of evidence collected using computational forensic software.
What just happenedOct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseApr 8, 2021
- Oct 19, 2021Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee - Apr 8, 2021IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Science, Space, and Technology Committee - Apr 8, 2021IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Judiciary Committee - Apr 8, 2021Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
Research and Technology Subcommittee - Apr 8, 2021IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Apr 8, 2021IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House