Buenos Aires Facial Recognition System Leads to False Arrests and Legal Battle
The city of Buenos Aires deployed a facial recognition system in 2019 that led to at least 140 false positives, resulting in police stops and arrests. Guillermo Federico Ibarrola was mistakenly identified as a criminal and spent five days in prison. Judicial investigations found evidence of irregularities and possible misuse for surveillance, leading to the system's deactivation. The city is now in a legal battle to reactivate it, while data privacy activists have sued.
- Company involved
- City of Buenos Aires
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Safe City Malta board renewed despite planned shutdown of surveillance programme
The Maltese government has appointed a new board to run Safe City Malta, the Huawei-developed facial-recognition surveillance project, despite saying in January that the company would be wound down. The board, including Omar Debono, Joseph Cauchi and Nadine Mizzi, was appointed for another year until June 2024. The government had earlier dropped the facial-recognition element over concerns that it would breach Maltese and EU law, and the article reports that nothing has been delivered.
- Company involved
- Safe City Malta
- AI system involved
- Safe City Malta
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Meta sued over alleged facial recognition training for smart glasses - biometricupdate.com
Allegedly extracted biometric identifiers from photographs without consent to train facial recognition and generative AI systems
- Company involved
- Meta Platforms
- AI system involved
- NameTag
1 source article · read the reporting →
São Paulo AI facial recognition policing: 8% false arrest rate in first year stirs controversy
巴西聖保羅AI人臉辨識辦案 啟用首年誤逮率8%惹議 - 公視新聞網PNN
São Paulo introduced AI facial recognition in late 2024, integrating 40,000 cameras. In 2025 robberies fell 15% and nearly 2,900 fugitives were arrested, but the initial false positive rate exceeded 8%, leading to wrongful detentions including elderly people, patients, and people with expired warrants or civil debts, prompting privacy and over-policing concerns.
- Company involved
- São Paulo City Hall
- AI system involved
- Smart São Paulo
1 source article · read the reporting →
ICE’s Mobile Fortify Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman Twice
During an immigration raid in Oregon, ICE agents used the Mobile Fortify facial recognition app on a detained woman to determine her identity and immigration status. The app returned two different incorrect names, according to testimony from a CBP official. ICE has claimed the app provides a definitive determination of immigration status, but this incident raises concerns about its accuracy. The misidentification could have led to wrongful removal proceedings.
- Company involved
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- AI system involved
- Mobile Fortify
1 source article · read the reporting →
South Korean government provided 170M facial images to private AI developers without consent
The South Korean government transferred approximately 170 million facial images of travelers obtained during immigration screening at Incheon International Airport to private companies for AI development without obtaining consent. The data included images of South Korean and foreign nationals. The project, an AI identification and tracking system, is ongoing. Critics call it a violation of digital rights at an unprecedented scale.
- Company involved
- South Korean government (Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT)
- AI system involved
- AI identification and tracking system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Court orders suspension of facial recognition in São Paulo metro
A court in São Paulo ordered the suspension of a facial recognition system in the city's metro stations following a lawsuit by civil society groups. The system, SecurOS by ISS and operated by ViaQuatro, was capturing biometric data of millions of daily users without adequate transparency or risk assessment. The court also barred the metro operator, METRO, from installing new biometric equipment and imposed daily fines for non-compliance. METRO stated it would appeal the ruling and prove compliance with data protection regulations.
- Company involved
- Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo (METRO)
- AI system involved
- SecurOS
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Henan Public Security Department Awards Mass Surveillance Project Targeting Journalists and Uyghurs
In 2021, the Henan Public Security Department awarded a contract to Neusoft for a surveillance system using Huawei cloud software. The system is designed to track and tag foreign journalists, foreign students, migrant women, and Uyghurs, with journalists labelled for potential punishment. IPVM and Reuters reported on the project, after which the tender was removed from public view. Huawei denied knowledge of the project, while Neusoft and PRC officials did not respond.
- Company involved
- Henan Public Security Department
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Israel deploys facial recognition at West Bank checkpoints for Palestinians
Israel's military has installed facial recognition technology, reportedly supplied by AnyVision, at West Bank checkpoints to verify the identities of Palestinians crossing into Israel. The system matches travellers' faces against a biometric database, reducing wait times but drawing criticism from human rights groups who argue it entrenches military occupation and raises privacy concerns. Critics also allege the technology may be used in a separate, more confidential programme to track potential assailants, which officials did not confirm.
- Company involved
- Israel Defense Ministry
- AI system involved
- Speed Gate
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Ahmedabad cyber police bust deepfake Aadhaar fraud racket, four arrested
Four men were arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly using AI-generated deepfake videos to bypass Aadhaar's facial authentication system. They changed a victim's registered mobile number, accessed his DigiLocker, and applied for loans in his name. The accused, including Common Service Centre operators, used unauthorised Aadhaar update kits. Police are investigating whether more victims were targeted.
- Company involved
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- AI system involved
- Aadhaar facial authentication system
1 source article · read the reporting →
French regulator fines Clearview AI €20 million for privacy breaches
France's privacy watchdog CNIL fined US facial recognition firm Clearview AI €20 million for unlawfully collecting and processing facial images of individuals without consent. The company scraped billions of images from websites and social media, selling access to law enforcement. Clearview AI denied being subject to EU law and refused to delete the data, claiming it was impossible to determine French residency from public photos. The CNIL ordered the firm to stop collecting data and delete existing data within two months or face daily fines.
- Company involved
- Clearview AI
10 source articles · read the reporting →
RCMP used IntelCenter facial recognition without disclosure
The RCMP in British Columbia secretly subscribed to IntelCenter's facial recognition service, which matched faces against a database of 700,000 faces tied to terrorism. Internal emails revealed the force broke its own procurement rules and hid the purchase. The RCMP claimed it was only for testing, but documents showed active use. The contracts ended in 2019.
- Company involved
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- AI system involved
- IntelCenter Check
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Suresnes allows startup XXII to use CCTV for experimental surveillance algorithms
The city of Suresnes has allowed startup XXII to use its public CCTV cameras for 18 months to develop algorithms for detecting suspicious behavior. The algorithms are experimental and may have high error rates. Residents were not informed or consulted. The startup will own the data and can use the city's surveillance center as a showroom for clients.
- Company involved
- Mairie de Suresnes
- AI system involved
- XXIISmartCity
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Lockport City School District's Facial Recognition System Misidentified Black Faces and Weapons
Lockport City School District deployed SN Technologies' AEGIS face and weapons detection system in January 2020. Parents and the New York Civil Liberties Union allege the system misidentifies Black people more often than white people and falsely detects weapons such as broom handles. A lawsuit was filed against the New York State Education Department seeking to ban facial recognition in schools. SN Technologies denied misleading the district.
- Company involved
- Lockport City School District
- AI system involved
- AEGIS
1 source article · read the reporting →
China police collect voice biometrics with iFlytek for mass surveillance
The Chinese government, collaborating with AI company iFlytek, has been collecting voice pattern samples to build a national voice biometric database. Police use an Automatic Speaker Recognition system to automatically identify targeted voices in phone conversations and alert authorities. Human Rights Watch reports that the collection occurs with little transparency, and individuals may not know their voice patterns have been taken or be able to challenge the surveillance. iFlytek has not responded to Human Rights Watch's inquiries about the program.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Public Security
- AI system involved
- Automatic Speaker Recognition (ASR) system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Civil Society Demands Halt to AI Facial Recognition Tracking System by South Korean Government
South Korea's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT are building an AI identification and tracking system using facial recognition for airport immigration. It was revealed that over 170 million facial photos of citizens and foreigners were transferred to private companies for AI training without proper legal basis. Civil society groups held a press conference on November 9, 2021, condemning the project as an unprecedented violation of information human rights and demanding its immediate halt. They argue the data transfer violates the Personal Information Protection Act and have requested a meeting with the Minister of Justice.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT
- AI system involved
- AI Identification and Tracking System
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Global Entry revoked after ICE agent used facial recognition on observer
Nicole Cleland, a Minnesota resident and volunteer ICE observer, had her Global Entry and TSA PreCheck privileges revoked three days after an ICE agent used facial recognition to identify her while she was following agents. She alleges the revocation is retaliation and intimidation. She filed a declaration in a lawsuit against DHS and ICE. The incident highlights the use of facial recognition by federal agents to identify protesters.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1 source article · read the reporting →
SenseNets silent after data leak exposes millions of people's records
SenseNets Technology Ltd., a Shenzhen-based facial recognition company, left a database containing personal information of more than 2.5 million people publicly accessible without password protection for months. Dutch security researcher Victor Gevers and the GDI Foundation discovered the exposure in July and warned the company, which did not respond. The database was secured in February after the leak was reported, and the company is reported to be conducting an internal investigation. SenseNets has declined to comment publicly.
- Company involved
- SenseNets Technology Ltd.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Facial recognition pilot at Berlin-Südkreuz by German police
A year-long pilot project of facial recognition technology was carried out at Berlin-Südkreuz train station from August 2017 to July 2018. The project was initiated by the German Ministry of the Interior, federal and state police, and supported by Deutsche Bahn. The pilot became a catalyst for media attention, spurring discourse on the efficiency and legitimacy of surveillance technology.
- Company involved
- German Federal Police
10 source articles · read the reporting →
CNIL says facial recognition trial in French high schools is illegal
The French data protection authority (CNIL) issued a non-binding opinion that a planned trial of facial recognition at two high schools in Nice and Marseille is illegal under the GDPR. The trial, approved by the South Region in December 2018, involved biometric portals to identify students. Digital rights groups, parents and teachers' unions opposed the experiment and filed a lawsuit. The CNIL stated that the system was too intrusive and that less intrusive methods could achieve the same purpose.
- Company involved
- South Region (Région Sud)
- AI system involved
- Cisco facial recognition system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Kneron researchers bypass facial recognition at airport and train station using mask and photo
In December 2019, Kneron researchers tested facial recognition systems at a high-speed rail station in China, Schiphol Airport, point-of-sale terminals, and a mobile phone. Using a high-quality 3D mask and a photo on a phone screen, they successfully deceived the systems, gaining access and making purchases. The survey highlighted security shortfalls in many commercial facial recognition solutions.
- Company involved
- Schiphol Airport; high-speed rail station in China
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Swedish police fined for unlawful use of Clearview AI facial recognition
Sweden's data protection authority IMY fined the Swedish Police Authority €250,000 for unlawfully using Clearview AI's facial-recognition app. The police used the app between autumn 2019 and March 2020 without authorisation or a required data protection impact assessment. The IMY ordered the police to ensure Clearview AI deletes the data and to train employees to avoid future breaches.
- Company involved
- Swedish Police Authority
- AI system involved
- Clearview AI
3 source articles · read the reporting →
ViaQuatro's facial recognition system in São Paulo metro challenged in court
In April 2018, ViaQuatro installed the Digital Interactive Doors System, developed by AdMobilize, on the São Paulo metro's yellow line. The system used cameras to detect passengers' faces and claimed to infer their emotion, age, and gender in order to target advertisements. The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection (IDEC) filed a public civil action alleging that the system violated consumer and data protection laws by processing biometric data without consent and making pseudoscientific and discriminatory inferences. A judge ordered the cameras removed in August 2018, and the case is pending a final ruling.
- Company involved
- ViaQuatro
- AI system involved
- Digital Interactive Doors System (DID system)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
GSMA fined €200,000 for facial recognition privacy violation at MWC
In 2021, Dr Anastasia Dedyukhina was invited to speak at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The organizers required her to upload biometric data (passport) online for identity verification, which she refused. She was then forced to attend virtually. She filed a complaint with the Spanish data protection agency (AEPD) along with Adam Leon Smith. Two years later, the AEPD fined GSMA €200,000 for infringing the privacy of nearly 20,000 attendees through the use of facial recognition without proper justification.
- Company involved
- GSMA
10 source articles · read the reporting →
