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.
Subscriber only
Full obligation matrix
| Actor | Obligation | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| other | Refrain from using facial recognition technology on consumers. | Upon enactment and effective date | — |
| other | Ensure any use of facial recognition technology on consumers is solely for a legitimate safety purpose. | Upon enactment and effective date | — |
Subscriber only
Enforcement risk score
Announced regulation; enforcement footprint still forming.
Subscriber only
Role-based compliance checklist
- general_counsel Track the legislative progress of NJ S968. (todo)
- compliance_officer Inventory all current uses of facial recognition technology involving New Jersey consumers. (Upon enactment and effective date)
- product_manager Assess whether existing or planned facial recognition applications meet the 'legitimate safety purpose' exception. (Upon enactment and effective date)
Subscriber only
Vendor impact assessment
- Vendor risk class
- high
- Procurement categories
- security_tooling, customer_service_ai, other
Vendors providing facial recognition technologies to businesses operating in New Jersey will need to ensure their solutions and client use cases comply with the proposed restrictions, particularly regarding consumer-facing applications outside of specified safety contexts.
Sample vendor questions
- Does your facial recognition solution process data from New Jersey consumers?
- For what purposes is your facial recognition technology deployed, and do these align with 'legitimate safety purposes' as defined by New Jersey law?
- What mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance with state-specific prohibitions on FRT use?
- Can your solution be configured to exclude or limit processing for New Jersey consumers, or for non-safety purposes?
Intelligence briefs (1)
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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