The Human Rights Case Against Facial Recognition

In an increasing number of countries, the face of anyone who enters a public space is automatically captured, scanned and processed by an algorithm. Combined with information from communications surveillance, facial recognition technology can give a complete picture of our entire everyday life. As it is used primarily against marginalised populations and has higher error rates for Black and Brown people as well as women and non-binary people, it can amplify discrimination. The use of facial recognition technology leads to chilling effects on the enjoyment of human rights: It can deter people from participating in protests or from visiting sensitive places. The COVID-19 pandemic fueled the rise of the technology, with state authorities and companies pairing it with thermal imaging.

This Fundamental Rights in Practice event on 22nd April 2021 discusses the challenges to the protection of fundamental rights presented by the use of facial recognition technology and by the lack of regulation on its development, sale and deployment.Amnesty International will present its global campaign "#BanTheScan" calling for a ban of FRT for the purpose of mass surveillance. Markus N. Beeko, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany and Chair of the Amnesty Steering Group on Human Rights in the Digital Age, will discuss the human rights impact of FRT as well as regulation and governance approaches. Matt Mahmoudi, researcher and adviser on artificial intelligence and human rights at Amnesty International will presents Amnesty’s #BanThe Scan project, which provides activists with the resources to conquer the technology's use in their home town, and the "Amnesty Decoders" - a worldwide network of digital activists geolocating facial recognition-capable surveillance devices. Cathryn Costello, Professor of Fundamental Rights at the Hertie School and Co-Director of its Centre for Fundamental Rights will act as a commentator. The event will be moderated by Anita Gohdes, Hertie School's Professor of International and Cyber Security.