German Police May Get Facial Recognition Tech Amid AI Act Discussions

"A German police official is seeking a public debate on whether law enforcement in the country should be able to search the internet with facial recognition to identify dangerous criminals. Friedo de Vries, President of Lower Saxony’s state criminal office (LKA), wants police to have the capability to search for offenders who could be sentenced to more than a year in prison by their face biometrics.

However, he acknowledges that there is no legal basis for such a capability at this time. The topic caught the attention of many in the country when accused RAF terrorist Daniela Klette was found by journalists using online facial recognition tool PimEyes. The suspect was later arrested by police in Berlin, with the help of local sources.

A Police Union representative complained that the investigation was hampered by its lack of access to the publicly available tool. The report refers to both PimEyes and Clearview AI, but suggests that the force could develop its own facial recognition system.

A politician from the Green Party raised the question of how training data for such a system could be obtained. The State ministers of the Interior and Justice are open to dialogue on the idea.

PimEyes will be blocked from the EU when an article in the AI Act banning the use of data from the public internet for biometric databases comes into effect in February. The Act also prohibits the use of facial recognition for prosecution except for 16 specific crimes, and then only with official authorization.

In a related development, the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior has confirmed the use of real-time or “live” facial recognition by State police in one property crime investigation. The facial recognition system is operated by the police force of another state; Saxony.

The same system has been used in other states, according to the report. Berlin police have used facial recognition in two investigations into cross-border gang crime. A representative of the State’s Greens demanded clarification from the Interior Ministry of what form of facial recognition was used and how the rights of those scanned can be protected.

The Green MP notes that an automatic license plate recognition system in Brandenburg was previously defeated in court, saying the facial recognition system is “even more problematic.”

  About PimEyes  PimEyes is an online facial recognition tool that uses artificial intelligence to search for faces on the internet.

  About Clearview AI  Clearview AI is a facial recognition technology company that provides law enforcement agencies with access to its database of over 3 billion faces.

About the AI Act  The AI Act is a European Union regulation that aims to promote the development of artificial intelligence while ensuring its safe and transparent use.

The German Federal Police, also known as the Bundespolizei, is the national police force of Germany. The agency is responsible for law enforcement and maintaining public order in the country."

"Q: What is facial recognition technology?

A: Facial recognition technology uses artificial intelligence to identify individuals by analyzing their facial features.

Q: What is the AI Act?

A: The AI Act is a European Union regulation that aims to promote the development of artificial intelligence while ensuring its safe and transparent use.

Q: Can police use facial recognition technology in Germany?

A: Currently, there is no legal basis for police to use facial recognition technology in Germany, but the issue is being debated and may be addressed in the future.

Q: What is PimEyes?

A: PimEyes is an online facial recognition tool that uses artificial intelligence to search for faces on the internet.

Q: What is Clearview AI?

A: Clearview AI is a facial recognition technology company that provides law enforcement agencies with access to its database of over 3 billion faces."