This week, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) joined other organizations and trade associations in urging lawmakers to support facial recognition technology. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, the group outlined how facial recognition technology is already being used in the private and public sectors to enhance the customer experience, assist in security operations, and improve business operations.

The group acknowledged that proper guardrails should be put in place when it comes to the technology, but also expressed concern that a potential moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology would be premature and have unintended consequences for innovation and safety.

“As organizations representing users, developers, and vendors of facial recognition technology, we all agree that facial recognition technology should be used carefully with proper guardrails in place that appropriately balance use cases with privacy and civil liberties considerations,” the organizations write. “However, we are concerned that a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology would be premature and have unintended consequences not only for innovation, safety, and security but for the continued improvement of the technology’s accuracy and effectiveness. Instead, we urge Congress to collaborate with all stakeholders to address concerns raised by facial recognition technology and provide a consistent set of rules across the United States.”

The group – which includes leading voices from various business, technology, and travel organizations – was delivered to Capitol Hill this week. In addition to ACI-NA, signers include the American Association of Airport Executives, the Consumer Technology Association, the Global Business Travel Association, the Identification Technology Association, the International Biometrics + Identity Association, NetChoice, the Security Industry Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The full letter can be viewed here.