Government “rushing” into facial recognition technology says Gannon

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said the government is pursuing a “headlong” rush into introducing facial recognition technology.

The party’s justice spokesperson TD said that the government are looking to introduce the technology “without adequate safeguards or transparency.”

Last week, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan told Cabinet that legislation, which would allow the usage of FRT within the Irish justice system, would be passed within the lifetime of the current government.

Gannon said the government was “ploughing ahead” on the legislation, and said that there were still concerns about “proper checks and balances.”

“The use of facial recognition by the state has serious implications for civil liberties. And yet, instead of engaging in meaningful consultation, or responding in detail to serious concerns raised by experts, the Minister has chosen to keep the public in the dark about how this technology will be used, governed, and scrutinised,” he said.

“Experts have repeatedly highlighted the dangers of rolling out facial recognition systems without robust oversight. Their warnings are stark: error rates in these systems are highly variable and depend on multiple factors, such as poor lighting and obstructed faces.”

Gannon explained “this is not some theoretical risk – it’s a real and present danger to people’s rights. Misidentifications could have life-altering consequences, especially for already marginalised communities.”

“The Minister’s failure to outline how this technology will be regulated, audited, or subject to independent oversight is unacceptable. If we get this wrong, it will damage public trust in both policing and the justice system more broadly.”

Speaking in 2023, the Irish Civil Liberties Union said they had concerns about the Gardaí planning to use bodycams.

“Bodyworn cameras are a new form of surveillance technology to be introduced in Ireland and they directly impact on people’s privacy rights and other key civil liberties such as freedom of assembly,” Liam Herrick, executive director with ICCL said at the time.

Gannon commented, “this government has a pattern of pushing ahead with legislation while ignoring calls for caution. It must stop. We need a full public debate on the scope, use, and oversight of facial recognition technology before any rollout begins – not after it’s already been quietly implemented.”

“The public deserves transparency, accountability, and the assurance that their rights are not being traded away behind closed doors; anything less is a betrayal of democratic values.”