AL, US · AI law tracker

HB197 — AL, US

HB197 is an AI governance legislation from AL, currently introduced. This bill proposes that artificial intelligence alone cannot be the singular basis for an arrest [1]. AIGI tracks 1 primary-source update on this bill; the most recent was published on 2022-04-05.

Status & timeline

Regulatory stage
introduced
Authority / governing body
Alabama Legislature
Chamber
House
Document type
legislation

Next deadline: No explicit effective date is present in the provided document; effectiveness typically aligns with legislative enactment.

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Full obligation matrix

ActorObligationDeadlineSource
agencyLimit the use of facial recognition technology.
agencyEnsure that artificial intelligence is not the only basis for making an arrest.

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Enforcement risk score

0
/ 100

Hypothetical or aspirational; no enforcement signal yet.

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Role-based compliance checklist

  • compliance_officer Monitor for any reintroduction or progression of similar legislation restricting AI use in law enforcement.
  • general_counsel Review current law enforcement policies regarding the use of AI and facial recognition for potential alignment with proposed restrictions.

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Vendor impact assessment

Vendor risk class
medium
Procurement categories
security_tooling

Vendors providing facial recognition or other AI tools to law enforcement agencies would need to ensure their products support human oversight and cannot be used as the exclusive justification for arrests. This may require product modifications, clear usage guidelines, and robust audit trails.

Sample vendor questions

  1. Does your facial recognition technology have built-in safeguards to prevent its use as the sole basis for an arrest decision?
  2. Can your AI systems integrate with existing human review processes to ensure compliance with human oversight requirements?
  3. What data governance practices do you employ to mitigate bias and ensure accuracy in your AI systems used for law enforcement?
  4. What are the limitations and potential failure modes of your facial recognition technology, especially in real-world law enforcement scenarios?
  5. How does your solution support the need for additional corroborating evidence beyond AI output for critical decisions like arrests?

Intelligence briefs (1)

legislation 4/5/2022

Alabama HB197: Limits Facial Recognition, Prohibits AI-Only Arrest Basis

This bill proposes that artificial intelligence alone cannot be the singular basis for an arrest [1].

This development bears on the scope of AI use in law enforcement and establishes guardrails for high-stakes decision-making in public safety.

Deadline: No explicit effective date is present in the provided document; effectiveness typically aligns with legislative enactment.

Primary source →

Frequently asked questions

What is HB197?
The Alabama House Bill 197 (HB197) proposes to limit the use of facial recognition technology within the state [1]. Furthermore, it mandates that artificial intelligence cannot serve as the sole basis for an arrest [1]. This legislative effort reflects ongoing discussions regarding the appropriate scope and safeguards for AI deployment in law enforcement operations. Primary source →
Why does HB197 matter?
This development bears on the scope of AI use in law enforcement and establishes guardrails for high-stakes decision-making in public safety. Primary source →
Who does HB197 affect?
Law enforcement agencies operating within Alabama are primarily within scope due to the proposed limitations on facial recognition and AI-based arrests. Organizations developing or deploying AI systems, particularly facial recognition technologies for public safety applications, will need to consider the implications of these restrictions for their operations and products used by Alabama authorities. This bill influences the use of AI systems in criminal justice applications across the state. Primary source →
What are the key dates for HB197?
No explicit effective date is present in the provided document; effectiveness typically aligns with legislative enactment. Primary source →
What is the current status of HB197?
As of the last published update, HB197 is at the "introduced" stage. Primary source →
Where can I find the primary source for HB197?
The primary source for the most recent update is at https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill/3608571. AIGI publishes the full citation chain plus every approved brief on this bill. Primary source →

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