Paris (AFP)

The National Commission on Computing and Liberties (CNIL) defended on Friday the development of the use of facial recognition by the public authorities, while drawing clear "red lines" not to be crossed, especially in terms of respect for privacy citizens.

"All is not and will not be allowed in terms of facial recognition", summarizes a report from the CNIL which highlights the "potential for new surveillance that may involve societal choices."

If the French police officer of the personal data does not oppose in principle any form of use of the facial recognition, it recommends several requirements to frame the experimentation.

First, "draw boundaries" and this before any use, even experimental, to define the scope of what is "desirable" politically and socially and what is "possible" technologically and financially.

The CNIL reminds, for example, that it recognizes the legitimacy of certain practices such as the control of access to the Nice Carnival, on a sample of volunteers.

On the contrary, she indicates that she opposed her use for access to schools in Nice and Marseille.

The CNIL also recommends paying particular attention to the respect of personal data that could be used via facial recognition.

It highlights some cardinal points to respect on the subject: the "consent" of the targeted people, the "control" of the data by the individuals, the "transparency", the "right of withdrawal of the device and access to information" and finally the "security" of the biometric data.

"Experiments can not ethically have the purpose or effect of accustoming people to intrusive surveillance techniques," insists the institution.

Finally, the CNIL advocates a real experimental approach and not a fixed framework of the use of this technology.

"A real experimental approach will test and perfect technical solutions that respect the legal framework," says the report.

"All these impacts must be carefully weighed because it is the terms of the social contract that some technological developments can redefine low noise," warns the CNIL.

Face recognition has made tremendous progress in recent years thanks to advances in artificial intelligence technology. It is especially widely used in China.

In France, the ADP group intends to test this technology next year at Paris-Orly airport, where facial recognition will allow passengers to pass various controls, from check-in to boarding.

© 2019 AFP