EPIC has sent a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing of Customs and Border Protection. EPIC cited frequent changes CBP has made to the opt-out procedures for the biometric entry/exit program. "Without legal authority or the opportunity for public comment, CBP is making up the rules as it rolls out the program," EPIC said. EPIC urged the Committee to suspend the screening program until privacy safeguards and meaningful opt-out procedures are established. Last week, EPIC warned Customs and Border Protection about facial recognition technology and urged the DHS Privacy committee to end the program.
In comments to the European Commission, EPIC highlighted the safety and security risks of IoT toys and wrote "There should be 'smart' regulations for 'smart' toys." The European Commission sought public comment on the EU Toy Directive, which establishes toy safety guidelines to protect children's health and safety but ignores connected toys. EPIC has repeatedly demonstrated the risks of IoT and smart toys before Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission in testimony, agency comments, petitions, and investigative complaints.
In a statement on AI policy to the House Armed Services Committee, EPIC urged the panel to ensure public input on AI policy. The statement from EPIC follows a petition to the White House, backed by EPIC and leading scientific organizations, to solicit public comments on US AI policy. EPIC also proposed the Universal Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence as the basis for AI legislation. The Universal Guidelines are intended to "maximize the benefits of AI, minimize the risk, and ensure the protection of human rights." More than 230 experts and 60 organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, have endorsed the Universal Guidelines.
