POLITICO reports that EU President von der Leyen and Commissioner Vestager are considering a ban on the use of facial recognition in public spaces, "for up to five years until safeguards to mitigate the technology's risks are in place." Last fall, more than 100 organizations, and several hundred experts, from over 40 countries urged data protection officials to adopt a moratorium on facial recognition. The Public Voice petition asked countries to "establish the legal rules, technical standards, and ethical guidelines necessary to safeguard fundamental rights and comply with legal obligations before further deployment of this technology occurs." EPIC is now tracking efforts around the world to Ban Face Surveillance.
The EU Advocate General advised the European Court of Justice that "the means and methods of combating terrorism must be compatible with the requirements of the rule of law" in a case concerning the retention of personal data for law enforcement purposes. The AG recommended limiting retention of data to data that are essential for national security and limiting access to that data subject to prior review by courts. The opinion is not binding on the Court of Justice and the Court will issue a judgment at a later date. The AG cited EPIC's expert submissions in "Schrems 2.0," another case concerning Facebook's transfer of personal data to the United States and the adequacy of U.S. privacy law.
EPIC has urged Congress to implement the OECD Principles on AI and adopt the Universal Guidelines of AI. In a statement in advance of a hearing on "Industries of the Future," EPIC also highlighted the White Houses's Guidance for AI Regulation, and urged the Senate to prioritize public participation and democratic values. Senator Roger Wicker's (R-MS) bill, the "Industries of the Future Act," would promote government investment in research and development and create a government Council to advise the Office of Science and Technology Policy on future industries, including artificial intelligence. EPIC has long advocated for transparency and public participation in AI policymaking. EPIC successfully sued the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to ensure public access to agency records. EPIC recently filed a complaint with the FTC alleging that recruiting company HireVue fails to comply with baseline standards for AI decision-making. EPIC also sued the DOJ to uncover documents about the use of algorithms in the criminal justice system.
