Facial recognition technology, increasingly integrated into the surveillance systems of sports stadiums worldwide, has raised significant privacy concerns among advocacy groups. According to a report by Privacy International (PI), 25 out of the top 100 soccer stadiums globally have implemented facial recognition as part of their security measures. The organization has taken its findings a step further by submitting comprehensive research and recommendations to the UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights.
In response to the growing use of facial recognition at sporting events, Privacy International and other organizations have petitioned the French constitutional court to block the technology’s deployment at the upcoming Paris Olympics. However, despite these efforts, the court ruled that such usage did not violate constitutional rights. This decision has prompted renewed calls for international intervention to regulate the use of facial recognition and artificial intelligence in sports arenas.
Privacy International’s appeal to the UN highlights broader concerns about the normalization of surveillance and the potential chilling effect on fundamental rights. The use of facial recognition technology in venues like sports stadiums not only raises privacy and data protection issues but also ethical questions about its widespread adoption in democratic societies. As such, the organization urges the UN to monitor human rights outcomes regularly and ensure appropriate remedies for individuals whose rights have been violated.
Jake Wiener, counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, emphasized the dangers associated with facial recognition technology, particularly in spaces where speech, protest, and personal identity are integral, such as sporting events. He warned against the potential for over-criminalization of harmless behaviors, wrongful arrests, and suppression of speech, underscoring the need for stringent regulation and oversight in the use of such technologies.
