New bill aims to introduce facial recognition technology for online bettors
A newly introduced bill would require online betting platforms to use facial recognition technology to verify the identity of bettors. The proposal appears aimed at preventing fraud, underage gambling, or self-exclusion violations in the online wagering space.
Why this matters: Anyone who places a bet online could soon have to hand over their face to do it. That is a significant trade. Facial recognition is not a password you can change if something goes wrong. It is permanent biometric data, and once a gambling platform has it, you have no real control over how it is stored, shared, or eventually breached. The goal of keeping out minors or problem gamblers is legitimate. But mandatory face scanning of adults to access a legal activity is a serious escalation. The bill's details on data retention and third-party access will matter enormously.
Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy
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