The proposal will allow An Garda Síochána to use biometric data for identification using facial recognition technology on CCTV footage retrospectively.
Ireland is one step closer to allowing gardaí to use facial recognition technology after Government approved the publication of a draft bill today (14 December).
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, TD, said that facial recognition technology will “dramatically” save time, speed up investigations and free up resources for An Garda Síochána to perform the “high-visibility policing we all want to see”.
This comes less than a month after a group of people rioted in Dublin city centre following a stabbing incident in front of a nearby school that injured five people, including three children.
McEntee said gardaí have had to trawl through 12,000 hours of CCTV footage in the aftermath.
“There has been an explosion in the use of digital data in criminal investigations, and that without adequate data analysis tools, the length of criminal investigations will enhance,” she said.
“Reducing the amount of time it takes gardaí to go through video footage will be of particular help where time is of the essence following a very serious crime being committed. It is in the interests of all parties, not least victims of crime, to have criminal investigations pursued as effectively and rapidly as possible.”
The proposal will allow law enforcement to use biometric data for identification using facial recognition technology on CCTV footage retrospectively. Earlier this month, Government passed a law that allows gardaí to wear bodycams from early next year.
“The General Scheme is intended to supply for the use of biometric identification, using facial images, by An Garda Síochána for an exhaustive list of the most serious of offences,” McEntee went on, referring to the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023.
“It will only supply for a limited form of retrospective use of biometric identification which can assist An Garda Síochána when they are searching CCTV footage and data.”
However, the Government intends the technology to be deployed in exceptional circumstances, such as when a “serious offence” is suspected and when biometric identification is “necessary and proportionate” in a specific case.
“This draft Bill ensures there is a requirement for a statutory code of practice, including requirements to conduct data protection and human rights impact assessments,” McEntee added.
“Not only does it ensure that the requirements for a code of practice cover the use of this type of biometric identification, it also ensures that any code created under these provisions, will have to be approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas.”
Patrick Costello, TD, of the Green Party said that there is a need for limitations, safeguards and proper scrutiny when it comes to facial recognition technology.
“When [the tech] was last pushed by Fine Gael we looked for limitations, safeguards and proper scrutiny. The need for limits and safeguards hasn’t changed,” he said, referring to McEntee’s party.
“We now need to ensure these safeguards are in the legislation itself. I look forward to examining this legislation at the Justice Committee.”
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Helen McEntee. Image: Anthony20morris (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
