Facial Recognition & Biometric Mass Surveillance: Document Pool

Despite evidence that public facial recognition and other forms of biometric mass surveillance infringe on a wide range EU fundamental rights, European authorities and companies are deploying these systems at a rapid rate. This has happened without proper consideration for how such practices invade people's privacy on an enormous scale; amplify existing inequalities; and undermine democracy, freedom and justice.

By EDRi · March 25, 2020

Most European countries have experimented with highly intrusive facial and biometric recognition systems in ways that lead to mass surveillance, and many have deployed it in either pilot or full deployment phases. Considering the high risk of abuse, discrimination and violation of fundamental rights to privacy and data protection, the EU and its Member States must develop a strong, privacy-protective approach to all forms of biometric surveillance. This includes prohibiting biometric mass surveillance and other biometric surveillance practices that unduly restrict people’s rights.

Deploying remote biometric identification in publicly accessible spaces means the end of anonymity in those places. Applications such as live facial recognition interfere with fundamental rights and freedoms to such an extent that they may call into question the essence of these rights and freedoms. [...] A general ban on the use of facial recognition in publicly accessible areas is the necessary starting point if we want to preserve our freedoms and create a human-centric legal framework for AI.

Andrea Jelinek, EDPB & Wojciech Wiewiórowski, EDPS, June 2021

In this document pool we will be listing relevant articles and documents related to facial recognition and other forms of biometric mass surveillance. This will allow you to follow the developments of measures and regulatory actions in Europe.

Contents

  1. EDRi’s analysis and recommendations
  2. EDRi members’ actions and reporting
  3. EDRi’s blogposts and press releases
  4. Key dates and official documents
  5. Guidance from data protection authorities
  6. Other useful resources

1. EDRi’s analysis and recommendations
2021

2020

2. EDRi members’ actions and reporting

3. EDRi’s blogposts and press releases
2021

2020

Pre-2020

4. Key dates* and official documents

  • European Parliament

    • 2021/0106(COD) – Artificial Intelligence Act [ordinary legislative procedure] (Parliament texts expected from Q3/4 2021 onwards)

5. Guidance and press releases from data protection authorities

Pan-European authorities:

National authorities (oldest – newest):

6. Other useful resources

* subject to change

This document pool was last updated on 5 July 2021.