<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78195</law_id><section_number>15.2-1723.2</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; approval</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="17">Police and Public Order</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span>&#x201D; means an electronic system for enrolling, capturing, extracting, comparing, and matching an individual&#x2019;s geometric facial data to identify individuals in photos, videos, or real time. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Facial recognition technology</span>&#x201D; does not include the use of an automated or semi-automated process to redact a recording in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to protect the privacy of a subject depicted in the recording prior to release or disclosure of the recording outside of the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency if the process does not generate or result in the retention of any biometric data or surveillance information. <a id="paragraph-280301" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1723.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency shall purchase or deploy <span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span> unless such purchase or deployment of <span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span> is expressly authorized by <span class="dictionary">statute</span>. For purposes of this section, a <span class="dictionary">statute</span> that does not refer to <span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span> shall not be construed to provide express authorization. Such <span class="dictionary">statute</span> shall require that any <span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span> purchased or deployed by the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency be maintained under the exclusive control of such local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency and that any data contained by such <span class="dictionary">facial recognition technology</span> be kept confidential, not be disseminated or resold, and be accessible only by a <span class="dictionary">search warrant</span> issued pursuant to Chapter 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="When search warrant may issue" href="/19.2-52/">19.2-52</a> et seq.) of Title 19.2 or an administrative or inspection warrant issued pursuant to <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-280302" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1723.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Nothing in this section shall apply to commercial air service airports. <a id="paragraph-280303" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1723.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 537.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
