Stalled surveillance bill highlights tension between privacy and public safety Backers no longer pushing bill that would have prohibited police from using facial recognition software this session Article Summary - A bill that would stop law enforcement from using biometric surveillance failed to gain enough support for a committee vote in March and its backers aren’t going to revive it by the end of May. - Stakeholders say the bill represents a tradeoff between privacy and public safety. - But the bill only had four sponsors in the House and will have to wait at least another year for further discussion. This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. CHICAGO — Backers of a bill aimed at limiting law enforcement’s use of biometric surveillance say they’re not looking to move the measure this legislative session. House Bill 5521, the proposed Biometric Surveillance Act, would prohibit law enforcement agencies from using or accessing facial recognition tools. But it failed to meet a March 27 committee deadline and was sent back to the House Rules committee the same day a man suspected of killing a Loyola University freshman was arrested with the help of facial recognition, according to authorities. Advocates for the bill say they are wary of debates happening in the wake of major news events, which can emphasize the technology’s role in investigations over its risks, including misidentification of individuals and expanded surveillance. Stakeholders say surveillance programs always represent a tradeoff between perceived public safety benefits and privacy concerns. “Used well, it’s a lead that can be used in conjunction with other evidence to break open a case,” said Matthew Kugler, a professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law who studies how public perceptions of biometric tools shape regulation. “Used badly, it is