Session
International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO)
Timilehin Ojo, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), Civil Society, International Víctor Práxedes Saavedra Rionda, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), Civil Society, International Olga Cronin, Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Civil Society, Europe Manuel Tufro, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Civil Society, South America Elizabeth Farries - Director of the University College Dublin (UCD) Centre for Digital Policy, Academia, Europe
Speaker 1: Olga Cronin, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO)/Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
Speaker 2: Adam Remport, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)
Speaker 3: Tomás Ignacio Griffa, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS),
Online speakers
Speaker 4: Víctor Práxedes Saavedra Rionda, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO)
Speaker5: Timilehin Ojo, International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO)
5.1
16.10
16.3
16.6
16.b
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG 5.1 - End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere FRT and Gender Discrimination: The use of facial recognition technology has been shown to exhibit gender biases, particularly in misidentifying women, especially women of color. These biases could lead to discriminatory practices, such as wrongful targeting or unfair treatment of women in law enforcement or security situations. Addressing these biases aligns with the goal of eliminating discrimination against women and girls, ensuring fairness in technological applications. SDG 16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all FRT and Justice: The ethical use of facial recognition technology in law enforcement is vital to ensure that its deployment does not undermine the rule of law or justice. Improper use of FRT can lead to wrongful arrests, biased profiling, and invasion of privacy, which contradicts the principle of equal access to justice. Ensuring that FRT is used in a transparent and just manner contributes to the broader goal of fair and impartial justice systems. SDG 16.6 - Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels Transparency in FRT Use: The principles for the use of FRT highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and oversight in its deployment by law enforcement. Ensuring that these institutions are held accountable for how they use technology aligns with the goal of developing institutions that are responsive, responsible, and transparent. SDG 16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements Public Access to Information: The ethical use of FRT includes ensuring that citizens have access to information regarding how FRT is being used, its potential risks, and its implications for privacy and civil rights. This transparency is crucial for upholding fundamental freedoms, including the right to privacy and freedom of expression. SDG 16.b - Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development Non-Discriminatory Policies: Our proposal advocates for laws and policies that protect individuals from discrimination in the use of FRT. Promoting and enforcing non-discriminatory practices ensures that FRT does not disproportionately affect marginalized groups or violate human rights, contributing to more equitable development.
Classroom
We aim to have an engaging and interactive session, where the speakers will lead the conversation by presenting the FRT principles and how they can be applied in different contexts. This discussion will last approximately 45 minutes. Afterward, the session will be open to allow for participants' engagement. During this time, participants will have the opportunity to share and reflect on specific cases and local experiences. The panel will then demonstrate how the principles may be applied to participants' specific cases.
Governments worldwide are racing to introduce or expand their use of policing facial recognition technology (FRT), a tool that can facilitate mass surveillance, often with little regard for the associated risks. In response, INCLO, with input from experts across 15 jurisdictions in the Global South and North, has developed a set of FRT Principles to provide a foundation for understanding these risks and to serve as a tool for assessment and advocacy for those challenging its use. These principles offer a comprehensive framework to help understand these risks and can serve as a tool for assessment and advocacy, particularly for those challenging the use of FRT by law enforcement. Within the subtheme of privacy and accountability, our session aims at presenting the FRT Principles to actors from diverse backgrounds and discuss how they can be applied in different local contexts. To facilitate this, we will share examples of current local situations, such as ongoing debates in parliament to pass laws enabling FRT use or judicial decisions that have paused FRT systems. Our session will also demonstrate how the principles can be used to address these challenges. The session will then be open to participants, giving them the opportunity to discuss the nuances of the FRT Principles and share their own local concerns. We will then explore whether these principles can be useful in their own contexts and how they can help mitigate the risks associated with FRT deployment. Link: https://inclo.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/INCLO-FRT-Principles-Final…
1) Interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees will be facilitated through active engagement tools, including polls and ice-breaker activities designed to involve both audiences effectively. 2) The session is designed to actively engage both online and onsite participants. In the second half, audience participation will be required as attendees' active participation would be essential to drive the conversation including through comments and questions. 3. N/A
Report
Introduction
The session focused on INCLO’s recent project on the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) for policing which resulted in the creation of 18 principles. These principles provide a foundation for understanding the risks associated with FRT and serve as a tool for assessment and advocacy for those seeking to challenge its use. The project builds on the 2021 INCLO report In Focus: Facial Recognition Stories and Rights Harms From Around the World. The session had experts on the topic from our member organizations present for the conversation. Olga Cronin from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) moderated the session, with Adam Remport from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) and Tomás Ignacio Griffa from Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) as panelists for the conversation. The discussion expanded on the FRT report and analyzed the principles along the lines of the current situation, legislation and policies in place in the jurisdictions in focus, Argentina and Hungary.
The conversation
The session highlighted FRT’s potential misuse, the growing interconnectedness of state surveillance systems and its ongoing impact on individual freedoms. Some points highlighted by the session are:
- Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) Poses Serious Risks to plethora of rights: The global trend toward increased use of FRT by law enforcement often lacks legal bases, safeguards, transparency, and sufficient oversight, posing risks of mass surveillance, discrimination, and human rights violations.
- The INCLO FRT Principles Offer a Rights-Based Framework for Evaluation and Advocacy: Developed through global collaboration, these principles help assess the human rights implications of FRT and serve as a tool for those advocating against the use of FRT by police or seeking to have that use limited.
- Collaborative Discussion Enhances Global Understanding and Strategy Development: Interactive, cross-regional dialogue in session such as this (the IGF session) allows for shared diverse perspectives and experiences, strengthening strategies to challenge harmful FRT practices.
Conclusions
The session reestablished the position that the pervasive deployment of FRT systems by police has a negative impact on the lives and fundamental rights of those under the surveillance of these technologies. The session concluded with the following:
- Use the INCLO Principles to Evaluate Local FRT Policies or Proposals: The INCLO principles can be used as a great tool to analyze current or proposed FRT deployments in your jurisdiction using the framework to assess compliance with relevant standards such as transparency, accountability, and human rights.
- Engage in Public Advocacy and Legal Challenges Where Necessary: Leverage the principles to support campaigns, draft policy recommendations, or build legal arguments challenging unlawful or unregulated FRT use by authorities.
- Foster Community Dialogue and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Organize workshops or forums using interactive tools (such as art) to engage community members, lawmakers, and technologists in discussions to help with communicating the dangers of FRT.
