Facial recognition technology: fundamental rights considerations in the context of law enforcement

• Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (EU body or agency)
• Pages: 1-1

FRA Focus

1

Facial recognition technology:

fundamental rights considerations

in the context of law enforcement

HELPING TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

A REALITY FOR EVERYONE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

FRA Focus

Facial recognition technology (FRT) makes it possible to compare digital facial images

to determine whether they are of the same person. Comparing footage obtained from

video cameras (CCTV) with images in databases is referred to as ‘live facial recognition

technology’. Examples of national law enforcement authorities in the EU using such

technology are sparse – but several are testing its potential. This paper therefore looks

at the fundamental rights implications of relying on live FRT, focusing on its use for law

enforcement and border-management purposes.

EU law recognises as ‘sensitive data’ people’s facial images, which are a form of

biometric data. But such images are also quite easy to capture in public places. Although

the accuracy of matches is improving, the risk of errors remains real – particularly for

certain minority groups. Moreover, people whose images are captured and processed

might not know this is happening – and so cannot challenge possible misuses. The paper

outlines and analyses these and other fundamental rights challenges that are triggered

when public authorities deploy live FRT for law enforcement purposes. It also brief‌ly

presents steps to take to help avoid rights violations.

Contents

. Facial recognition technology and fundamental rights: setting the scene ................................................ 

. Facial i mages as a unique biometric identif‌i er in EU law .............................................................................. 

. What is facial recognition technology? ........................................................................................................... 

. Accuracy of facial recognition technology: assessing the risks of wrong identif‌ication ......................... 

. Use of facial recognition technology by public authorities in the EU .......................................................... 

. Fun damental rights implication s of using live facial recognition: general p oints ..................................... 

. Fundamental rights most affected .................................................................................................................. 

Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................................. 