Should facial recognition software be allowed to be used in video surveillance in public places?

Poll results

Should facial recognition software be allowed to be used in video surveillance in public places?
Support
Reject
Don't know
49%
45%
5%
PolitPro Community – 3551 respondents – 22.09.2023-29.09.2023

Poll information

Should facial recognition software be allowed to be used in video surveillance in public places? 49% of respondents are in favor of using facial recognition software in video surveillance in public places, while 45% are against.

5% chose the answer "Don't know". The survey was conducted among 3551 users of the PolitPro app during 22.09.2023-29.09.2023. The results are not representative, but may give a rough idea of the political mood around the issue.

Pros - What's in favor?

  1. Fighting crime: facial recognition software can help fight crime in public places more effectively. By identifying suspects in real time, security forces can have faster response times and identify potentially dangerous situations early.
  2. Prevention of crime: The presence of facial recognition software can deter potential offenders, helping to prevent crime. Knowing that their face can be recognized and tracked can cause individuals to reconsider their criminal intentions.
  3. Efficiency and time savings: the use of facial recognition software can increase the efficiency of law enforcement by helping them identify suspects. This can lead to time savings in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.

Cons - What's against it?

  1. Data protection and privacy: the use of facial recognition software in public places can be considered an invasion of citizens' privacy. Permanent monitoring and recording of faces could lead to a surveillance state and endanger the right to privacy.
  2. Misidentification and misinterpretation: Facial recognition software is not error-free and can lead to misidentifications. Innocent individuals could be falsely suspected or victimized by surveillance. This can lead to unfair treatment and a loss of trust in security measures.
  3. Misuse and abuse of data: the use of facial recognition software poses the risk of misuse of collected data. The possibility of personal information falling into the wrong hands or being used for other purposes is worrying and can make citizens feel insecure.