New powers for the police
Identifying suspects could soon be easier and quicker in Germany. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is planning to give the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Police extended facial recognition powers. This will enable investigators to identify suspects more quickly in future by comparing photos with images from social networks and the internet. A corresponding bill has already been drafted and provides for changes to several police laws.
Targeting terrorists: the hope of better tracing successes
Radical Islamic terrorists, such as members of the “Islamic State” (IS) organisation, are a particular focus of the new measures. Many of these individuals could be in Europe without being recognised, even though they can be seen in torture and execution videos. With the planned facial recognition system, investigators could compare screenshots of such videos with images from social networks and thus obtain information on the identity and location of the suspects. This would provide the police with a powerful tool to improve the search for dangerous criminals.
Changes to the law: What exactly is planned
In order to implement these plans, Minister Faeser’s draft bill envisages amending several police laws. In addition, a new paragraph is to be added to the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow “biometric comparison with publicly accessible data from the internet”. It is important to note that live facial recognition, for example using surveillance cameras at railway stations, is not envisaged. This method therefore remains excluded, which could potentially alleviate concerns regarding data protection and privacy.
The debate about facial recognition: a controversial topic
The introduction of facial recognition in police work is not new, but it is highly controversial. A recent case has reignited the debate: ex-RAF terrorist Daniela Klette was finally arrested after more than two decades after a journalist used facial recognition software to identify her in a Berlin dance club. The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) subsequently criticised the fact that investigators lack the legal basis for such technologies. This is precisely where Interior Minister Faeser comes in: With the planned changes to the law, the police should be able to use such software legally and in a targeted manner.
What does this mean for the future?
With the introduction of facial recognition in the police and BKA, Germany is facing a far-reaching decision. On the one hand, criminals and terrorists could be identified and apprehended more quickly. On the other hand, there are concerns about data protection and the potential misuse of this technology. The coming months will show how these plans develop in concrete terms and whether they achieve the desired effect without jeopardising the rights of citizens. One thing is certain: the debate surrounding facial recognition will be with us for a long time to come.
