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Parliamentary question - E-004471/2016Parliamentary question
E-004471/2016
European Parliament

Facial recognition software in EU data bases

31.5.2016

Answer in writing

Question for written answer E-004471-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL)

The Schengen Information System (SIS II), the Visa Information System (VIS) and the fingerprint database (Eurodac) store biometric facial images. These information systems are now to be gradually equipped with facial recognition technology for photo searches. The decentralised Prüm procedure is also being extended to permit the consultation of facial images.

How many facial images are already stored on the EU's SIS II, VIS and Eurodac databases, and how many of them are suitable for photo comparison, using the relevant software, in order to identify individuals?

What photo comparison and facial recognition software products are used by the Justice and Home Affairs agencies, and what purchases of such technology are planned? Please give separate answers, specifying the manufacturer, for each agency.

What does the Commission know about the context in which the manufacturers of FindFace image recognition software have already ‘negotiated with firms involved in European border protection’ [1], and what future databases (e.g. the Entry-Exit System) could be equipped with software similar to FindFace?

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