EU considers five-year ban on facial recognition tech | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
July 23, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
EU considers five-year ban on facial recognition tech

Tech

TBS Report
18 January, 2020, 12:45 pm
Last modified: 18 January, 2020, 12:56 pm

Related News

  • UEFA bans Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat for 10 years over match-fixing
  • Police disperse crowd, reinforce ban on rally near Jamuna: DMP
  • Pogba joins Monaco after serving doping ban
  • Concerned about changes to legislation allowing ban on political parties in Bangladesh: UN rights chief
  • 3-month ban on fishing, tourism in Sundarbans from 1 June

EU considers five-year ban on facial recognition tech

New tough rules have to be introduced to bolster existing regulations protecting Europeans’ privacy and data rights

TBS Report
18 January, 2020, 12:45 pm
Last modified: 18 January, 2020, 12:56 pm
Face recognition technology is fast becoming a weapon of choice for authorities in surveillance activities, raising serious concerns among citizens about privacy and other issues. Photo: Reuters
Face recognition technology is fast becoming a weapon of choice for authorities in surveillance activities, raising serious concerns among citizens about privacy and other issues. Photo: Reuters

The European Commission is considering a ban on facial recognition technology in public areas for up to five years, to give it time to work out how to prevent abuses.

Exceptions to the ban could be made for security projects as well as research and development, reports BBC.

"New tough rules have to be introduced to bolster existing regulations protecting Europeans' privacy and data rights," according to the EU document.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The technology allows faces captured on CCTV to be checked in real-time against watch lists, often compiled by police.

The Commission set out its plans in an 18-page document, suggesting that new rules will be introduced to bolster existing regulation surrounding privacy and data rights.

It proposed imposing obligations on both developers and users of artificial intelligence and urged EU countries to create an authority to monitor the new rules.

During the ban, which would last between three and five years, "a sound methodology for assessing the impacts of this technology and possible risk management measures could be identified and developed".

The proposals come amid calls from politicians and campaigners in the UK to stop the police using live facial recognition for public surveillance.

Most recently the Kings Cross estate found itself at the centre of controversy when it was revealed its owners were using facial recognition technology without telling the public.

Campaigners claim the current technology is inaccurate, intrusive and infringes on an individual's right to privacy.

A recent study suggested facial recognition algorithms are far less accurate at identifying black and Asian faces compared with white faces.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has begun rolling out facial recognition in pharmacies in Shanghai for people buying certain drugs.

Individuals buying controlled medicines, such as those containing psychotropic substances, will be asked to verify their identity by scanning their face.

It marks the latest in a series of moves from the Chinese state to prevent potential abusers from getting hold of certain medicines that can be used to produce illegal drugs.

The country is a big supporter of facial recognition, and while the West remains cautious, China continues to embrace the technology.

World+Biz

facial recognition tech / Ban / European

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: CA Press Wing
    Stronger stance needed on maintaining law and order: Political parties to CA
  • Volunteers collect and gather parts of the wrecked plane from the Milestone School and College grounds on Tuesday, a day after the devastating aircraft crash. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    Grief, angst and anger: The unbearable toll of Milestone crash
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling

MOST VIEWED

  • Screengrab/Video collected from Facebook
    CCTV footage shows how Air Force jet nosedived after technical malfunction
  • ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
    ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
  • The jet plane charred after crash on 21 July at the Milestone school premises. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    Milestone plane crash: Death toll rises to 31 as nine more succumb to injuries
  • Students and police clash at Milestone School and College on 22 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Protesting Milestone students clash with police, besiege law and education advisers
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Aerial view of the Milestone school premises where the crash took place on 21 July. Photo: Olid Ebna Shah/ TBS
    ‘Why here?’: Concerns expressed over airbase inside city

Related News

  • UEFA bans Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat for 10 years over match-fixing
  • Police disperse crowd, reinforce ban on rally near Jamuna: DMP
  • Pogba joins Monaco after serving doping ban
  • Concerned about changes to legislation allowing ban on political parties in Bangladesh: UN rights chief
  • 3-month ban on fishing, tourism in Sundarbans from 1 June

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

10h | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

4h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

1d | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

What information did the director of the NBPSI give about the admitted patients?

What information did the director of the NBPSI give about the admitted patients?

2h | TBS Today
What is discussed at the Chief Advisor's meeting?

What is discussed at the Chief Advisor's meeting?

3h | TBS Today
Two advisors and press secretary were blocked at Milestone for 8 hours

Two advisors and press secretary were blocked at Milestone for 8 hours

3h | TBS Today
Chief advisor's meeting with 4 parties; what was discussed?

Chief advisor's meeting with 4 parties; what was discussed?

3h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net