Usage of Private Data for National Security

Yesterday, we observed the United Nations Human Rights Council, which it is all about balancing the right to privacy and the use of private data for national security.

The guest speaker, Hans Lückhoff, a volunteer of Amnesty International, brought in new input. He talked about facial recognition in favor of privacy and national security. His talk centered around the successful case study of Berlin Südkreuz, where facial recognition was trialed with notable results. according to the data presented. During the study an AI system was tested that constantly checks a watchlist of criminals. In 65.8 % of the tests, the AI recognized the criminals. Only 0.6% of identifications involved individuals not on the watchlist. Since 90.000 persons pass per day, there are 600 people that are wrongly accused, which leads to Lückhoff‘s conclusion that it is not usable. He complained that the AI often accuses a certain group of people, for example, black women. In Lückhoff‘s opinion, that is a major problem.

The delegate of Finland presented one of the two resolutions, which deals with the protection of personal data. This resolution led to positive as well as negative feedback. The delegation of Canada strongly supports the resolution, stating that citizens deserve to feel safe and governments have a duty to provide that security. Brazil, while generally in agreement, noted the presented resolution is not applicable to developing countries and “needs a little shaping.“

Numerous amendments were proposed and enthusiastically voted on, reflecting the committee‘s high engagement with the issue. The discussion was marked by respectful dialogue and active listening.

With regard to this year‘s motto, “The Quarter of a Century - From Aspirations to Reality“ that debate of UNHRC fits perfectly. This example clearly shows how quickly the focus can shift within just a quarter of a century - especially in light of advancing AI and constantly evolving technology.

by Irla Syfuß and Luise Asche