Illinois Court Outlines Limits of Biometric Privacy Exemption
(Bloomberg Law, Apr 28, 2026)
An Illinois appeals court drew a narrower line around a contractor exemption under the state’s biometric privacy law, holding that government contractors are protected only when the challenged conduct falls within the scope of their government work. The court said the exemption does not apply when a contractor violates the law while pursuing private undertakings outside its government contractual responsibilities, limiting any argument that contractor status creates a blanket shield from biometric privacy claims.
acial Recognition Is Now in Some Michigan Schools, but Critics Are Concerned
(Michigan Public, Apr 28, 2026)
Some Michigan schools, including Detroit Public Schools Community District, are using Visitor Aware kiosks that scan a visitor’s ID, verify identity, and print badges as part of a push to identify potential threats before they enter school buildings. The rollout is drawing concern from critics who say facial recognition can be less accurate for people of color, disabled people, and gender-nonconforming individuals, and who worry the screening process could discourage parents, especially immigrant families, from entering schools and staying involved in their children’s education.
Disneyland Implements Facial Recognition to Keep the Lines Moving, but Guests Say They Didn’t Know It Was Optional
(Fortune, Apr 28, 2026)
Disneyland has expanded facial recognition across entrance lanes at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure as part of a push to speed reentry and reduce fraud. Although Disney says the system is optional and offers non-facial-recognition lanes, some guests told Fortune they did not realize they could avoid it, adding to concerns about transparency and consent. Disney says the system converts entrance images into numerical values for matching and generally deletes those values within 30 days unless they are needed for legal or fraud-prevention purposes.
Facial Recognition Scans at Stores Are a ‘Permanent’ Threat but Shoppers Can Fight Back
(The Independent , Apr 28, 2026)
Facial recognition in retail settings is being framed as a lasting privacy and security risk because faces can be scanned passively, linked across databases, and turned into permanent identifiers that people cannot change after a breach. The article warns that stolen biometric templates could be combined with other leaked data to build detailed “super-profiles,” while also noting that shoppers can push back by asking what data companies collect, how long they keep it, and whether deletion is possible under applicable privacy laws.
Armenia to Introduce New Biometric Passports
(Caliber.Az, Apr 28, 2026)
Armenia plans to replace its current passports with a new ICAO-compliant biometric version designed for smoother use at border control and airport checkpoints, including contactless scanning at boarding gates and arrival exits. Officials say the change could also support the country’s push toward EU visa liberalization, while the broader overhaul would extend biometric documentation to foreign nationals, refugees, and stateless residents as part of a wider modernization of Armenia’s identification system.
