Sample Solution

The improvement of facial recognition technologies can be a great help for national security. But it raises strong concerns regarding the individual’s privacy. When there are cameras everywhere, individuals will be continually watched. This possible violation of privacy creates fear in people. Another point that raises fear, is that the data of facial recognition can be misused. There is always tension between the need for privacy and what this loss of privacy can bring us (security). Is it acceptable to use facial recognition technologies in all situations? That is what will be discussed in this paragraph.

A reason why facial recognition technologies should be used is because of its contribution to security. There is belief that these technologies can offer solutions, it can for example help by the identification of suspects and thus help prevent crimes. With these systems there is a broader intelligence and security infrastructure [13]. But are the technologies safe enough? There is one big ethical issue, that is the right to privacy. Misuse of data and the problem of error are related to this.

i. Privacy
Every person has the right to have privacy and protection of his or her personal data. Facial recognition systems are a threat to the individual’s privacy. It can lead to a society in which the government knows everything about an individual.
The law should protect individuals against the dangers facial recognition technologies entail. The privacy law in Europe, the GDPR, is as follows: “the use of biometric data for identification is in principle prohibited (Art. 9.1). Article 9.2 GDPR however contains many exceptions to the prohibition of bio-metric data use for identification, including the explicit consent of the person.” [18]. The use of facial recognition data is forbidden, unless a legal justification exists.
Whether this law protects persons adequately from violation of their privacy is arguable. The law allows the usage of different technologies, provided that certain principles are being followed in the application of the technology. For example, the facial recognition technology may only be used for a specific purpose and only with consent of the individual. Interpretation of the law remains difficult, especially if there is an increase of new technologies. Since the law does not apply to every specific technology