Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Realigning Mobile Phone Biometrics for American Privacy Protection Act
A Democratic bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Realigning Mobile Phone Biometrics for American Privacy Protection Act," aims to restrict the use of specific facial recognition mobile applications. It directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to create standards that prohibit the use of the Mobile Fortify Mobile Application, Mobile Identify Mobile Application, or their successors, except for identification at ports of entry. The act also prevents the Department of Homeland Security from sharing these applications with other federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial agencies. Additionally, it requires the removal of these applications from Department information technology and the remote disabling of such applications on non-Department devices. Finally, the bill mandates the destruction of captured biometric data of United States citizens within specific timeframes.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +9
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill provides strong protections against the collection and retention of facial recognition biometric data for US citizens.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates the destruction of biometric data and restricts the sharing of facial recognition applications to protect personal privacy.
- Scored +4
Would white Americans be better off under this?
The bill mandates the destruction of existing biometric images or fingerprints of United States citizens.
The opposite
- Scored -6
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill reduces domestic surveillance by prohibiting the use and sharing of specific facial recognition mobile applications outside of ports of entry.
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill limits the ability of federal agencies to share specific surveillance technology with state and local jurisdictions.
- Scored -2
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill restricts the use of mobile biometric identification tools to only the immediate vicinity of ports of entry.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Privacy Protection for Citizens: The bill requires the destruction of images, photographs, or fingerprints of United States citizens captured via the specified mobile applications. Under paragraph (4), this data must be destroyed before new standards are implemented, and under paragraph (5), data captured at ports of entry must be destroyed within 12 hours.
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Limiting Data Sharing: The bill prevents the Department of Homeland Security from sharing the Mobile Fortify Mobile Application, Mobile Identify Mobile Application, or successor applications with any other Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial agency as stated in Section 2, paragraph (2).
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Restriction of Application Use: The bill limits the use of these specific facial recognition applications to only identification purposes at ports of entry, as dictated by Section 2, paragraph (1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would white Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates the destruction of existing biometric images or fingerprints of United States citizens. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill limits the use of facial recognition technologies that are often subject to concerns regarding racial profiling. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill limits the use of facial recognition technologies that are often subject to concerns regarding racial profiling. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill limits the use of facial recognition technologies that are often subject to concerns regarding racial profiling. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill restricts the use of facial recognition mobile apps that could be used for surveillance in urban environments outside of ports of entry.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill provides strong protections against the collection and retention of facial recognition biometric data for US citizens. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes strict standards and timeframes for the destruction of biometric data held by the Department of Homeland Security. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill limits the ability of federal agencies to share specific surveillance technology with state and local jurisdictions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates the destruction of biometric data and restricts the sharing of facial recognition applications to protect personal privacy.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill reduces domestic surveillance by prohibiting the use and sharing of specific facial recognition mobile applications outside of ports of entry.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill enhances privacy protections regarding biometric data capture which can assist in protecting the digital rights of all citizens. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill restricts the use of mobile biometric identification tools to only the immediate vicinity of ports of entry.
- 1/16/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 1/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
J. CorreaDemocrat · California
Adriano EspaillatDemocrat · New York
Grace MengDemocrat · New York
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan