Hamden, CT Privacy & Surveillance: Facial Recognition Ban (2026)

Section 105.02(A) prohibits the town, or any town official acting in an official capacity, from obtaining, retaining, accessing or using any facial recognition system, or any information obtained from a facial recognition system. Section 105.01 defines 'FACIAL RECOGNITION' as an automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying an individual or capturing information about an individual based on the physical characteristics of their face, and 'FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM' as any computer software or application performing that function. The ban reaches beyond town employees: Section 105.01 defines 'HAMDEN OFFICIAL' to include any officer, employee, agent, contractor, subcontractor or vendor acting on behalf of the town, so a private vendor working for Hamden is covered too.

Section 105.03(A) reinforces the ban with an exclusionary rule: no data or evidence collected or derived from facial recognition used in violation of the chapter may be received in evidence in any hearing or proceeding before any town department, officer, agency, committee, board, commission or other authority. Section 105.03(B) requires the town to address alleged violations in accordance with applicable law and its contractual obligations.