Texas Congressman Steve Stockman introduced H.R. 4381, the Biometric Information Privacy Act. It would protect a consumer’s personal physiological biometric information from being passed onto third parties. Biometric data include personal identifying information such as DNA, fingerprints, retinal scans, or facial scanning, converted into binary code.

“Consumers should not have to worry about third parties obtaining their personal biometric information,” said Congressman Stockman. “Business entities should be penalized for disclosing such information without seeking the consumer’s consent first.”

Currently, there are no laws that prevent firms from disclosing this information to third parties. As the personal genomics industry keeps growing, personal genetic information has become susceptible to being disclosed to a third party.

In addition, biometric information used in security features, another growing industry, has the same susceptibility.

The bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee April 2.