european union flags

European Union Contemplates Banning Facial Recognition For Three To Five Years

While the ban is on the table, EU leadership ultimately says it would be a “far-reaching measure” with the potential to stifle the development of the technology.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jan 21, 2020

The leadership of the European Union is considering a ban on facial recognition technology in public spaces for up to five years that would give companies that time period to work out policies that would prevent abuse, Reuters reported.

An 18-page white paper obtained by Reuters and other news outlets lays out EU leaders’ concerns with facial recognition systems used by law enforcement agencies across the globe, including many EU countries.

“Building on these existing provisions, the future regulatory framework could go further and include a time-limited ban on the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces,” the white paper reads, according to Reuters. “[During a three to five year period] a sound methodology for assessing the impacts of this technology and possible risk management measures could be identified and developed.”

While the facial recognition ban is on the table, the authors of the white paper ultimately did not recommend the ban as one of three policy options that the Commission should pursue, Fortune reported.

“Such a ban would be a far-reaching measure that might hamper the development and uptake of this technology,” the authors wrote, stating that it would be better to focus on enforcing existing measures in the EU’s data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Read More: GDPR: Here's What You Need to Know

The new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already pledged to introduce a new legislative agenda for artificial intelligence within the first 100 days of her administration, which began on Dec. 1.

A spokesman for the Commission declined to comment on the leak of the white paper but told Fortune: “To maximize the benefits and address the challenges of Artificial Intelligence, Europe has to act as one and will define its own way, a human way. Trust and security of EU citizens will therefore be at the center of the EU’s strategy.”

The white paper included recommendations to impose regulations on developers and users of AI, including facial recognition, and that authorities should be appointed to monitor enforcement of the regulations, according to Reuters.

EU leadership will seek feedback on the white paper when it is released and then make a final decision. Margrethe Vestager, the digital chief for the EU, will likely present the Commission’s proposals in February.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.