GAO warns of privacy risks in using facial recognition in rental housing
11 days ago
- #rental-housing
- #federal-oversight
- #property-technology
- Property technology (proptech) tools are increasingly used in the rental housing market for functions like advertising, tenant screening, rent-setting, and facial recognition.
- Proptech tools offer benefits such as convenience, safety, and efficiency but also pose risks related to transparency, discrimination, and privacy.
- Facial recognition technology can enhance security but may misidentify individuals from certain demographics and raise privacy concerns.
- Federal agencies like HUD, FTC, CFPB, and DOJ have taken actions to address risks, including legal actions against misleading advertising and discriminatory practices.
- HUD's current guidance on facial recognition technology lacks specific operational details, prompting calls for more detailed direction to public housing agencies.
- GAO recommends that HUD provide additional written guidance on facial recognition technology to address privacy and accuracy concerns.