Microsoft Backs Facial Recognition Bill as Amazon Mulls Support
E-commerce giant has questions about first-of-its-kind state legislation while sponsor seeks company’s backing
Facial recognition software
Photographer: Ian Waldie/Getty ImagesTwo months after calling for laws to regulate facial-recognition software, Microsoft Corp. is lobbying on behalf of a first-of-its-kind bill in its home state of Washington. The question is whether cross-town rival Amazon.com Inc. will support it.
Amazon has asked the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Reuven Carlyle, for some clarifications and changes around areas like a requirement that makers of AI software claiming to identify faces open up their product to third-parties who want to test it, Carlyle said. Carlyle has reviewed requests for re-wording and changes to the bill from various parties, including Amazon, and on Thursday is submitting a revised version of his proposal.