Pringle: Facial recognition technology is not the answer
- Updated: 27th November 2023
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has criticised reported Government plans to include facial recognition technology in new legislation in response to the riots in Dublin last week.
Deputy Pringle said: “I oppose the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) and spoke on it earlier this year in the Dáil, in the debate on Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022. FRT doesn’t work and it’s biased against racial minorities. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has also spoken on the risks that FRT poses to people’s rights.
“What the gardaí should have done is moved on far-right groups earlier. They had many opportunities, from the far-right demonstrations we’ve seen at libraries, to the violent attack on the makeshift refugee camp on Sandwith Street, to the protest outside the Dáil in September.
“It’s a core group of the same people orchestrating this. If gardaí had targeted them, they could have cut it off at the root. Instead, they have taken a softly, softly approach that has led to this.
“So we will see loads of legislation that won’t make a blind bit of difference, but will make the Government look as though they’re doing something. And unless that approach changes, this will continue,” he said.
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