Dilemmas in the use of Facial Recognition Technology

The case of Uruguay and the use of Facial Recognition in Sports Public Security as a Technological Showcase

Abstract

Initially seen as the modern and effective solution for the prevention and repression of conflicts triggered in and around football stadiums, Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) began to be incorporated into Uruguayan public surveillance in 2017 with the aim of being used to reinforce security in the stands of the Estadio Centenário and, in subsequent years, its use was expanded to almost all urban spaces in the country. However, the acquisition of this type of technologies that directly deal with the processing and storage of sensitive data requires caution. This text, using the case study methodology, sought to address the context in which FRT was introduced in Uruguay, its uses in sports security and the bidding processes that led to its contracting in other spaces. To this end, a review of specialized bibliography, mapping of news and decisions of the Disciplinary Commission of the Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF) was carried out. We sought, through graphs, to understand the variation in violence reported in stadiums, as this is an argument central pragmatic aspect of opting for this type of technology. The regulatory framework applicable to the use of facial recognition was analyzed. Finally, the approach to the case by the country's judicial courts was mapped. During the research, the lack of transparency regarding the use of FRT became evident, a situation that violates basic principles for democracies, namely the publicity and purpose of administrative acts.