NY, US · AI law tracker

S1933 — NY, US

S1933 is an AI governance legislation from NY, currently committee. New York Bill S1933 proposes establishing a Biometric Privacy Act, mandating private entities create written biometric data retention and destruction policies [1]. AIGI tracks 2 primary-source updates on this bill; the most recent was published on 2021-01-16.

Status & timeline

Regulatory stage
committee
Authority / governing body
New York State Senate
Chamber
Senate
Document type
legislation

Next deadline: No fixed deadline — bill is currently in Senate Committee.

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Full obligation matrix

ActorObligationDeadlineSource
deployerDevelop a written policy establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information.Upon effective date of the act (if enacted)
deployerPermanently destroy biometric identifiers and biometric information.When the initial purpose for collection is satisfied or within three years of the individual's last interaction with the private entity, whichever occurs later.

Subscriber only

Enforcement risk score

25
/ 100

Announced regulation; enforcement footprint still forming.

Subscriber only

Role-based compliance checklist

  • compliance_officer Monitor the legislative progress of NY S1933, especially if it advances out of committee.
  • compliance_officer Begin preliminary assessment of current biometric data handling practices against proposed requirements for retention and destruction policies.
  • general_counsel Evaluate the potential legal implications of the proposed Biometric Privacy Act for the organization's operations in New York.

Subscriber only

Vendor impact assessment

Vendor risk class
high
Procurement categories
hr_tech, security_tooling, customer_service_ai

Vendors handling biometric data for New York-based entities will need to demonstrate clear policies and technical capabilities for data retention and permanent destruction in line with this proposed act. This applies to HR systems, physical access controls, and customer-facing biometric authentication.

Sample vendor questions

  1. What biometric data, if any, do you collect, store, or process on our behalf?
  2. Do you have a written policy for biometric data retention and destruction that aligns with proposed NY state requirements?
  3. How do you ensure the permanent destruction of biometric data according to specified retention schedules?
  4. What contractual assurances can you provide regarding compliance with biometric privacy regulations?

Intelligence briefs (2)

legislation 1/16/2021

NY S1933: Biometric Privacy Act Mandates Data Retention Policies

New York Bill S1933 proposes establishing a Biometric Privacy Act, mandating private entities create written biometric data retention and destruction policies [1].

This development bears on the scope of biometric data governance and deployer obligations, aligning with emerging US state privacy frameworks.

Deadline: No fixed deadline — bill is currently in Senate Committee.

Primary source →

Frequently asked questions

What is S1933?
New York Bill S1933, titled the "Biometric Privacy Act," has been introduced to establish regulations for biometric data. It proposes that private entities in possession of biometric identifiers or information must develop a written policy. This policy would detail a retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying such data once its initial collection purpose is satisfied, or within three years of an individual's last interaction, whichever is later [1]. Primary source →
Why does S1933 matter?
This development bears on the scope of biometric data governance and deployer obligations, aligning with emerging US state privacy frameworks. Primary source →
Who does S1933 affect?
This proposed legislation targets private entities operating within New York State that collect, store, or process biometric identifiers or biometric information. This includes organizations utilizing technologies such as facial recognition for access control, timekeeping systems employing fingerprint scans, or voice recognition for customer service. Businesses in sectors like retail, healthcare, financial services, and hospitality are typically within scope due to their frequent interaction with individuals' biometric data. Primary source →
What are the key dates for S1933?
No fixed deadline — bill is currently in Senate Committee. Primary source →
What is the current status of S1933?
As of the last published update, S1933 is at the "committee" stage. Primary source →
Where can I find the primary source for S1933?
The primary source for the most recent update is at https://legislation.nysenate.gov/bills/2021/S1933. AIGI publishes the full citation chain plus every approved brief on this bill. Primary source →

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