Italy's Privacy Authority seeks facial recognition regulations

Italy's Data Protection Authority (Garante Privacy) is calling on the Italian Parliament to establish specific regulations regarding the use of facial recognition technology in investigations and security activities. Pasquale Stanzione, president of the Authority, noted that while biometric tools can be useful for specific investigative purposes, they require a strict legal framework to prevent indiscriminate mass surveillance.

The Authority highlighted risks such as algorithmic discrimination, false positives, and the potential for technological errors to impact individual freedoms and dignity. The goal is to ensure that artificial intelligence applied to investigations is used only in delimited contexts with verifiable accountability.

Separately, legal discussions in Italy continue regarding the limits of private investigators' powers, specifically concerning the legality of using GPS tracking on vehicles. Under Ministerial Decree no. 269 of 2010, such activities are subject to strict legislative boundaries to balance investigative rights with individual privacy protections.