Use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and judicial authorities in Italy

By Thomas Vink, 28th July 2022

StraLi for Strategic Litigation (StraLi) is preparing a strategic path to challenge the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and judicial authorities in Italy. They will also identify partners, domestically and at European level, who are bringing forward similar litigation activities, to create a strong network to pursue common advocacy efforts.

Specifically, the planned litigation will target exemptions to a law enacted in December 2021. This law suspended the installation and use of facial recognition technology in public spaces by both private and public actors, with an exemption for its continued use for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences.

Use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and judicial authorities in Italy

Organisation Name

StraLi for Strategic Litigation (StraLi)

Country/Jurisdiction

Italy

Amount Granted

EUR 17,933

Current Status

Research complete

Grant type

Pre-litigation Research Support

Description

StraLi for Strategic Litigation (StraLi) is preparing a strategic path to challenge the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and judicial authorities in Italy. They will also identify partners, domestically and at European level, who are bringing forward similar litigation activities, to create a strong network to pursue common advocacy efforts.

Specifically, the planned litigation will target exemptions to a law enacted in December 2021. This law suspended the installation and use of facial recognition technology in public spaces by both private and public actors, with an exemption for its continued use for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences.

StraLi completed the research in 2023, publishing two complementary reports:

  1. Building a Litigation Strategy to Challenge the Use of Facial Recognition Technologies by Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities in Italy; and,
  2. Mapping The Use Of Facial Recognition Technologies In Italy
"...preparing a strategic path to challenge the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and judicial authorities in Italy"

Strategic Goal

To ensure that biometric surveillance can only be carried out where it is pursuant to a well-defined legislative framework and complies with fundamental human rights.

Organisation Name

Women’s Link Worldwide

Image credit: Danny Lines on Unsplash