Critics: European facial recognition rules don’t go far enough

A collective of 170 privacy rights groups, activists and organizations from 55 countries warn against the widespread use of facial recognition software and believe that European facial recognition rules do not go far enough.

The groups write this in an open letter. They argue that the use of facial recognition in public spaces violates human and civil rights and fear that the European law restricting facial recognition software leaves room for interpretation, allowing it to be misused.

In the bill, published in April, the European Commission is looking for a way to better protect citizens’ rights while allowing governments to use facial recognition software in the fight against crime and terrorism. The rules prohibit the use of biometric identification, and in particular facial recognition, by the police unless there is a risk of serious crime.

According to the collective of activists from Access Now, Amnesty International, European Digital Rights, Human Rights Watch and the Internet Freedom Foundation, the latter is too vague, leaving room for all kinds of surveillance based on alleged threats that are not tested. . There is also nothing in the bill about companies that use facial recognition in the public space.

In addition to the bill, activists are concerned about the widespread use of facial recognition software in other continents besides the EU. In particular Brazil and India. They argue that the EU has an exemplary role with strict data protection legislation. According to the collective, every loophole could be included if other countries start making similar legislation based on the legislation in the EU.

The call of the signatories of the letter