- Police facial recognition system in use
A system of the Saxon police for facial recognition has also been used in Brandenburg. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this has happened in one case so far. Criticism comes from the Greens, who call on Interior Minister Michael Stübgen of the CDU to clarify the matter transparently. In Brandenburg, the SPD, CDU, and Greens govern together.
A spokesperson for the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior in Potsdam told dpa on request: "The State Criminal Police Office of the Police Headquarters used the (...) system of the Saxon police in one case in 2024 as part of police mutual assistance in the fight against property crime."
The authority did not provide further details, citing ongoing investigations. Previously, "Zeit online" and "nd" reported that the controversial facial recognition system from Saxony had been used in several other federal states.
Facial recognition also used in Berlin in investigations
In connection with the search for the suspected former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette, the Police Union had called for more possibilities to use facial recognition programs. In Berlin, methods of automatic facial recognition were used in two major investigations into "cross-border gang crime," as the Senate Administration of the Interior said in April.
Ministry: System is a suitable investigative tool
The spokesperson for the Ministry in Potsdam said that, from a police perspective, the system is a suitable technical investigative tool. "Without such a tool, police investigations would be significantly hindered."
The system can be used in cases of property crimes, but also to solve grandparent scam cases, robbery cases, serious cross-border crime, and drug crime. "It is important to note that, in principle, judicial decisions must be in place for each use of this technology."
Real-time comparison between image data and people in vehicles passing camera locations is performed. No mass surveillance is taking place, the Ministry of the Interior said. "The system in question is not Kesy 2.0 or its introduction through the back door." The application of automatic license plate recognition in Brandenburg - the so-called Kesy system - was illegal and had been criticized due to data protection concerns.
Green MP opposes facial recognition system
Marie Schäffer, the interior policy spokesperson for the Green state parliament faction, rejects the facial recognition system. "After several defeats in court for the unauthorized mass storage of license plate data on Brandenburg's highways, a even more problematic system has now been used, in which large numbers of innocent people were filmed and their faces automatically compared," Schäffer criticized.
She sharply condemns this practice. "I demand that the Interior Minister immediately clarify in what form automatic facial recognition was used in Brandenburg and how those affected can assert their rights."
The Commission, acknowledging the use of the Saxon police's facial recognition system in Brandenburg, may consider adopting a decision to regulate the usage of such technology to ensure transparency and data protection.
Given the criticism from the Greens about the use of facial recognition in Brandenburg, the Commission could also decide to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter, considering the potential implications for privacy and individual rights.
