In the Copenhagen City Court, they consider the police's requests for, among other things, phone tapping every week. The same should apply to the use of technology for facial recognition, thinks the Danish Association of Judges. (Archive photo) Photo: Søren Lorenzen/Ritzau Scanpix
Judges seek oversight of police facial recognition
Judges argue for court supervision when police use facial recognition in crime investigations, citing it as ‘highly intrusive,’ akin to wiretapping. According to Mikael Sjöberg, head of the Judges’ Association, such surveillance potentially exposes private matters the public may wish to keep hidden. Currently, Danish police can deploy the method without court approval, but lawmakers are called upon to regulate its use. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard and the National Police Chief Thorkild Fogde discussed utilizing the technology cautiously to avoid creating ‘Chinese conditions.’ Judges emphasize the importance of deliberate decision-making regarding surveillance and facial recognition, referencing debate on societal values.