The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) NGO has claimed that facial recognition technology (FRT) shows “significant racial bias” and is “less accurate in identifying people of colour.”
In a statement marking Anti-Racism Month, an ICCL spokesperson, who included “she/her” pronouns in her email sign-off, warned that such technologies lead to wrongful arrests, surveillance, and discrimination, highlighting international examples.
“FRT has been shown to exhibit significant racial bias leading to wrongful arrests, surveillance and discrimination,” she said.
“Studies have shown that these technologies are less accurate in identifying people of colour. This can result in severe consequences for innocent people. This is not just a technical issue but a systematic injustice built into these technologies that reinforce racial inequality.”
The ICCL cited the case of Robert Williams, an African American man who was wrongfully arrested in the United States in January 2020 due to police use of FRT.
Speaking at an ICCL event last year, Williams urged caution, saying: “In America, we’re trying to undo the harms that FRT has already done. Here in Ireland you have an opportunity not to introduce it in the first place. I hope your government will listen to experiences like mine and think twice before bringing FRT into policing.”
“…Recent developments in Hungary have also raised concerns, with authorities proposing the use of FRT to track attendees at Pride events, disproportionately affecting racial minorities within the LGBTI+ community.
“We cannot stand by as this invasive surveillance technology attacks our human rights, including privacy, protest, association and equality.”
Ireland is currently considering introducing facial recognition technology within policing, which has sparked ongoing debates and controversy around civil liberties, mass surveillance and potential bias.
Proponents of the technology argue that facial recognition could significantly enhance public safety in Ireland by aiding Gardaí in swiftly identifying suspects, reducing crime rates, and bolstering security at ports and airports. They also assert that FRT can improve efficiency in criminal investigations, freeing up Garda resources and time for other pressing tasks.