NJ, US · AI law tracker

S968 — NJ, US

S968 is an AI governance legislation from NJ, currently introduced. The proposed bill would prohibit facial recognition technology use on consumers, with a limited exception for legitimate safety purposes [1]. AIGI tracks 1 primary-source update on this bill; the most recent was published on 2024-01-09.

Status & timeline

Regulatory stage
introduced
Bill status
SCM
Authority / governing body
New Jersey State Legislature
Document type
legislation

Next deadline: No fixed deadline — current status is SCM, pending further legislative process.

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Full obligation matrix

ActorObligationDeadlineSource
deployerOrganizations must not use facial recognition technology on consumers, unless for a legitimate safety purpose.Upon enactment

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Enforcement risk score

0
/ 100

Hypothetical or aspirational; no enforcement signal yet.

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Role-based compliance checklist

  • general_counsel Monitor progress of NJ S968 through the legislative process.
  • cto Assess current uses of facial recognition technology on consumers in New Jersey.
  • compliance_officer Identify any legitimate safety purposes for which facial recognition technology is currently used, and evaluate alignment with potential exceptions in the bill.

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Vendor impact assessment

Vendor risk class
high
Procurement categories
facial_recognition

Vendors providing facial recognition solutions for consumer-facing applications in New Jersey would need to demonstrate strict adherence to the prohibition and ensure any permitted uses fall within narrowly defined 'legitimate safety purpose' exceptions.

Sample vendor questions

  1. Does your facial recognition technology differentiate between 'consumer' and other user types in its application?
  2. What mechanisms are in place to ensure facial recognition is used only for legitimate safety purposes for customers in New Jersey?
  3. How do you ensure compliance with state-specific prohibitions on facial recognition technology use on consumers?

Intelligence briefs (1)

legislation SCM 1/9/2024

New Jersey Bill S968 Prohibits Most Consumer Facial Recognition Use

The proposed bill would prohibit facial recognition technology use on consumers, with a limited exception for legitimate safety purposes [1].

This bill introduces a new deployer obligation by restricting a specific AI technology use case, signaling a potential shift in state-level AI regulation.

Deadline: No fixed deadline — current status is SCM, pending further legislative process.

Primary source →

Frequently asked questions

What is S968?
New Jersey Senate Bill S968, currently in the Senate Commerce Committee (SCM), seeks to prohibit the use of facial recognition technology on consumers [1]. This legislative proposal includes a specific exception for legitimate safety purposes [2]. The bill is part of the 2024-2025 legislative session and introduces a new regulatory dimension for AI systems in the state. Primary source →
Why does S968 matter?
This bill introduces a new deployer obligation by restricting a specific AI technology use case, signaling a potential shift in state-level AI regulation. Primary source →
Who does S968 affect?
Organizations deploying facial recognition technologies in New Jersey, particularly those with consumer-facing applications, would be affected. This includes entities in retail, hospitality, entertainment, and other sectors currently utilizing or planning to utilize facial recognition for purposes beyond legitimate safety concerns. Companies offering AI-powered identity verification or access control systems may also fall within scope if their systems interact with consumers in ways not deemed a 'legitimate safety purpose'. Primary source →
What are the key dates for S968?
No fixed deadline — current status is SCM, pending further legislative process. Primary source →
What is the current status of S968?
As of the last published update, S968 is at the "introduced" stage, with bill status "SCM". Primary source →
Where can I find the primary source for S968?
The primary source for the most recent update is at https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S968. AIGI publishes the full citation chain plus every approved brief on this bill. Primary source →

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