Event information
Facial recognition technologies (FRT) are cutting edge AI systems that process biometric data for identification, verification and categorisation purposes. Although the research and development of these systems have made huge strides in the last decades, and computer scientists are following and supporting this evolution, it has been only a few years since legal scholars have been investigating the implications on fundamental rights. The enactment of new data protection regulations and the discussion of new proposals (esp. the AI Act) have turned the debate on its head, putting FRT in the spotlight. However, there are still aspects that have been little explored but will be crucial in the coming years for the democratic, social, technical, ethical, and legal acceptance of these technologies.
The conference aims to shed light on these unexplored aspects, which impinge on systematic legalissues concerning the regulation and the protection of rights and freedoms. To this end, the presentedpapers will deal with the different legal approaches on FRT that are arising at the global level. Related tothis, specific attention will also be put to analyse how the distinction between the use of – andconsequently the rules on – FRT by private and public entities is getting increasingly evanescent, assome of the most recent cases show. Other papers will dwell on some of the most challenging and controversial deployment of FRT, for specific purposes, such as emotion recognition; for advancedcontexts, such as smart cities. Finally, the last works will focus on legal issues stemming from the most recent proposals at EU level, namely liability and cybersecurity.
The conference welcomes the participation of selected scholars of international prominence who have already been working on FRT, and therefore have the background to carry forward the investigation on these topics. This initiative is part of larger funded research projects.
- 09:00 - 09:30
Welcome Address
Ginevra Cerrina Feroni I Vice-president in the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali
Natalia Menéndez Gonzalez I European University Institute
Giuseppe Mobilio I University of Florence
- 09:30 - 11:00
Roundtable: Next Democratic Frontiers for Facial Recognition Technology
Professor Theodore Christakis I Chair on the Legal and Regulatory Implications of Artificial Intelligence with the Multidisciplinary Institute on AI, Director of the Centre for International Security and European Studies, and Co-Director of the Grenoble Alpes Data Institute
Professor Els Kindt I Director of the Biometric Law Lab in KU Leuven
Massimo Tistarelli I Director of the Computer Vision Laboratory, University of Sassari
Moderator: Andrea Simoncini I Professor of Constitutional Law in the Department of Juridical Sciences of the University of Florence
11:00 - 11:30 COFFEE BREAK
- 11:30 - 13:00
First Workshop: Values and Principles
Facial Recognition in Public Spaces and the Principle of Necessity; Catherine Jasserand-Breeman I KU Lueven
Technical solutions for a proportional use of Facial Recognition Technology; Natalia Menéndez Gonzalez I European University Institute
Unveiling the Legal Facade: Examining the Implications of Facial Recognition Technology on Data Protection and Privacy in Sub-Saharan Africa; Oarabile Mudongo I Human Sciences Research Council
The Brussels effect on Face Recognition: are we at the endpoint? Federica Paolucci I Bocconi University
The Precautionary Principle For the Use of Facial Recognition Technology in Esports; Tsubasa Shinohara I Swiss Esports Federation
Moderator: Giuseppe Mobilio I University of Florence
- 13:00 - 13:20
Discussion
Naama Ben-Zvi I Director of Supervision & Compliance National Biometric Projects in the Israel National Cyber Directorate
13:30 - 14:30 LUNCH
- 14:30 - 16:00
Second Workshop: Democratic Challenges for Facial Recognition Technology
Conceptualizing AI Liability in Facial Recognition Technologies: A quest for the “Smart” EU Borders; Abdullah Elbi I KU Leuven
Facial Recognition Technologies and Cybersecurity in the EU: Regulatory Implications of Biometric Data Processing; Theodoros Karathanasis I Chair on the Legal and Regulatory Implications of Artificial Intelligence
From identity to emotional dominance? “Early warnings” on emotion recognition uses in internal security actions; Paolo Francesco Levantino I Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Facial recognition technologies: threats or opportunities for democracy? Giuseppe Mobilio I University of Florence
FRT and access to public services: What acceptable uses in smart cities? Isadora Neroni Rezende I University of Bologna
Moderator: Natalia Menéndez Gonzalez I European University Institute
- 16:00 - 16:20 Discussion
16:20 - 16:40 COFFE BREAK
- 16:40 - 17:15
Conclusions
Amnon Reichman I Professor of Law in University of Haifa, Director of the Haifa Center for Cyber, Law and Policy
Final Remarks
Natalia Menéndez Gonzalez I European University Institute
Giuseppe Mobilio I University of Florence
ORGANISERS
Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche I University of Florence
School of Transnational Governance I European University Institute
The Centre for Cyber Law & Policy (CCLP)
WITHIN THE PROJECTS
Self-Regulation and Co Regulation for Emerging Technologies (SECORETECH) Constitutional Law of Technology (COLTECH)
The Digital Constitutionalist (DIGICON)
In Presence: Villa Ruspoli, Piazza Indipendenza n. 9, 50129, Florence, Italy & Online
Registrations: at this link
For information and online attendance: frtflorence2023(AT)gmail.com
