EU ponders facial recognition ban so legislation can catch up

THE European Commission is mulling over a ban of up to five years on the use of facial-recognition technology in public places within the EU, such as sport stadiums or town centres.

A draft white paper on artificial intel- ligence, which is subject to change, was leaked and revealed the plan which was prepared by the EU executive.

The paper, obtained by the website Euractiv, said Brussels could bring forward regulation including “a time-limited ban on the use of facial-recognition technology in public spaces”.

A ban would buy regulators time to catch up with a fast-moving tech sector but could impact German plans to roll out facial recognition at 134 railway stations and 14 airports. France also wants to build a legal basis for embedding the technology in its CCTV systems.

“Facial-recognition technology by private or public actors in public spaces would be prohibited for a definite period (eg 3 to 5 years) during which a sound methodology for assessing the impacts of this technology and possible risk-management measures could be identified,” the draft paper said.

The document cites the EU’S general data protection regulation (GDPR) as justification for the ban. That law protects EU citizens from being “subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling”.

The final version of the document is due to be published in February by the commission, which could propose binding rules. Any legislation would be subject to amendments and approval by EU governments and the European Parliament. It is unlikely to be EU law before the end of 2020, meaning it will not be imposed in Britain after Brexit.

The commission is also considering imposing minimum standards for government departments when it comes to “high-risk applications of artificial intelligence” in policing, healthcare, transport and the judiciary.

A European Commission spokesman refused to comment on the leaked paper, but said: “Technology has to serve a purpose and the people. Trust and security will therefore be at the centre of the EU’S strategy.”

The British data watchdog described facial-recognition technology as “intrusive”, but three UK police forces are already trialling the software to identify suspects.

Big Brother Watch, an NGO, warned last year that the secret use of facial-recognition technology in public places in Britain was an “epidemic”.