Enhedslisten (The Red-Green Alliance), a leftist political party in Denmark, has opened the door to the use of retrospective facial recognition technology in police investigations, particularly in cases related to dangerous gang-related crime. This development comes despite the party’s general opposition to increased surveillance measures. Rosa Lund, the party’s spokesperson on legal affairs, emphasized that this technology could free up significant police resources, which could then be redirected to enhance local policing efforts, especially in areas like Nørrebro, a district in Copenhagen known for its diverse community and social issues.
The proposal for facial recognition technology follows a recent violent gang-related incident that led to the arrest of young individuals from Sweden in Denmark. The police aim to employ the technology to analyze surveillance footage, and Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard has even expressed openness to the idea.
Rosa Lund has made it clear that Enhedslisten intends to set strict boundaries on the use of facial recognition. The technology would not be permitted for real-time tracking, data storage would be prohibited, and a warrant would be required for its application. Moreover, there will be no installation of new cameras for this purpose.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard previously stated that the police should assess the use of facial recognition technology themselves, which has raised concerns among figures such as District Court Judge Morten Uhrskov Christensen. He warned against completely entrusting the decision to the police and highlighted that it is the responsibility of politicians to establish legal boundaries.
The media outlet Radar reports that the police are already preparing a concrete project involving facial recognition technology, which will enable thorough examination and analysis of large volumes of video data. Depending on political decisions, this project could be rapidly implemented.
The National Police (Rigspolitiet) informed Radar that the current project is organized with the aim of quick implementation, should the technology receive political approval. This is intended to ensure that the police can effectively utilize the tool in investigations, thereby contributing to the fight against serious crime.