Facial recognition in Italy: the blockade extended until 2025

The Italian Senate recently gave its assent, following the approval of the Chamber, to the extension of the ban on facial recognition in the country until 2025. "From today the moratorium on the use of facial recognition technologies will last until 2025“, says Senator PD Filippo Sensi, previously involved in the issue of artificial intelligence.This time extension reinforces the ban on the installation of biometric surveillance tools in public places, such as hospitals, stations and shopping malls, an idea that had been previously proposed by the Interior Minister Piantedosi.

The meaning of the extension

The extension of the ban until 2025 offers a longer reflection period to debate the issue of artificial intelligence in Europe. This extension allows for a greater evaluation of European legislation, which expressly prohibits the use of facial recognition. "Thanks to the work done by Marianna Madia and Lia Quartapelle in the Chamber there is no going back to the Far West, one is staying in Europe. And one is avoiding a drift that someone in government had caressed in the newspapers, smuggling control with confidence“, continues Sensi. The The European AI Act provides a single exception for facial recognition when national security is at stake.

Details of the ban

In recent months, some mayors had attempted to install video surveillance systems with facial recognition in their cities, but encountered resistance from the Privacy Guarantor. The prohibition prohibits the installation of such systems in public places, shops or billboards, without exception, unless they are used by the judicial authority or the public prosecutor in the exercise of their judicial functions.

The future vision

This extension now puts the opposition in the position of wanting to know more, raising questions not only about civil rights but also about the efficiency and effectiveness of these technologies. It is important to understand if there is other software in use and which companies are implementing this technology. Claudio Telmon points out that these systems represent important strategic changes that involve significant risks and should not be minimized as mere "technological evolutions". Meanwhile, Italy has decided to extend the moratorium on facial recognition for another two years, while the European Union works to establish legislation that can regulate the use of these systems without compromising individual freedom or undermining national security.