Human Rights Commission: "Public Institutions Must Halt Introduction of Facial Recognition Technology"

Preventing Human Rights Violation Risks
Grace Period for Use Until Legislation
Government Accepts Human Rights Commission Recommendations

The Prime Minister has accepted the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to take measures to prevent public institutions from adopting related technologies until legislation to prevent human rights violations related to remote facial recognition is established.

On the 8th, the NHRCK Standing Committee determined that the Prime Minister had accepted this recommendation from the NHRCK.

Earlier, in January last year, the NHRCK recommended that the Prime Minister prepare countermeasures, stating that if the state collects citizens' faces without proper control, it could infringe on the secrecy and freedom of private life.

The NHRCK judged that if facial recognition technology is used for tracking or surveillance of individuals, it could cause the so-called 'chilling effect,' where citizens hesitate to exercise their freedom of assembly and association in public places.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination responded twice to the NHRCK's recommendation in April and October last year. The Office stated that currently, no government agencies have introduced facial recognition technology in public places, and that systems using related technology will not be introduced unless a legal basis is established in individual laws. Furthermore, it explained that it is reviewing the establishment of laws and systems that consider both fundamental rights violations and industrial development related to facial recognition technology.

The NHRCK stated, "We recommended to the Prime Minister based on the judgment that legislation to control facial recognition technology is necessary," and added, "To prevent technologies with potential human rights violations from being indiscriminately introduced, the NHRCK intends to continue related discussions."