From border control to policing and welfare, governments are using automated facial recognition technology (FRT) to collect taxes, prevent crime and control immigration. Concerns around an increased use of FRT in public spaces across the globe have led to calls for regulation or outright bans. However, regulatory solutions lag behind. This panel discusses government use of FRT across domestic and regional jurisdictions in Europe, Americas and Asia-Pacific. Is FRT a neutral technology to ensure public safety? Or is it a surveillance infrastructure, undermining fundamental rights and the rule of law? The panel will explore whether and how the answers to these questions differ among liberal democracies, and how democracies compare to authoritarian regimes. Building on cultural, legal differences and common trends, the presenters will discuss possible future directions in regulating governments’ use of FRT at national, regional and international levels.
