Russian rights defenders urge regulation of facial recognition

Rights defenders called on Russian authorities to limit the operation of facial-recognition systems amid privacy threats and data leaks. The corresponding report was prepared by the Net Freedoms project of the international human rights organisation Agora, according to «Ъ».

The authors argue that in Russia it is necessary at the legislative level to introduce concepts of allowed and prohibited zones for the use of facial-recognition technologies, set a maximum retention period for video recordings from surveillance cameras, regulate the system for citizens’ complaints about recognisers, and inform residents about the use of video surveillance.

Rights defenders noted that in the last three years video surveillance has been widely rolled out across Russia. They cited the state system «Safe City», which operates in 40 regions. In 13 of them facial recognition is actively used, the researchers say.

“The technology is so effective that its spread in the absence of mechanisms to protect public interests and guarantees of citizens’ rights poses a serious threat,” the rights defenders said.

They mentioned the risks of data leaks and intrusion into citizens’ private life as biometric identification technologies spread and become accessible to private individuals.

The Moscow city hall said that they already have a cap on the retention period for video data. It ranges from five days to a month, though it can be extended in case of a “reservation request”.

They also recalled that 70% of crimes are solved thanks to the facial-recognition system, and the technology “does not intrude on the personal space of city residents”.

First Deputy Chairman Yuri Sinelnikov of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation acknowledged that the concerns of rights defenders are justified.

“On the one hand, they [facial-recognition technologies] are necessary for security. On the other — there cannot be a camera in every apartment,” the deputy said.

According to him, the issue requires serious analysis; however, to resolve it a working group should be established under the government or the presidential administration of the Russian Federation.

Earlier in June, Russian media reported that authorities were discussing the possibility of unifying all city surveillance cameras into a single system.

In April, the Association of Lawyers of Russia proposed to regulate the artificial intelligence market in the country.

Read more about the surveillance system and the deployment of facial-recognition technologies in Russia in ForkLog’s exclusive.

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