Session
Organizer 1: Rocha da Silva Felipe, Laboratory of Public Policy and Internet - LAPIN
Organizer 2: Rafaela de Alcântara, ARTICLE 19 Brazil and South America
Organizer 3: Cynthia Picolo de Azevedo Carvalho, Laboratory of Public Policy and Internet
Speaker 1: Cynthia Picolo de Azevedo Carvalho, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Angela Alarcon Angela Alarcon, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Ferreyra Eduardo, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Rocha da Silva Felipe, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Cynthia Picolo de Azevedo Carvalho, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Rafaela de Alcântara, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Break-out Group Discussions - Flexible Seating - 90 Min
How to deconstruct the idea, common in public opinion, that surveillance through facial recognition is beneficial for public security?; What must be done to promote the issue of "surveillance through facial recognition" among diverse social groups, especially the marginalized ones? What we cannot do if we seek for this engagement?
Connection with previous Messages: The session proposal will explore how facial recognition systems are deployed in public security, as well as tools, methodologies and strategies to run a campaign to ban the use of those technologies. Thus, the session is directly related to the IGF 2021 message of Economic and Social Inclusion and Human Rights.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
11.3
11.7
11.b
11.c
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
16.1
16.10
16.3
16.6
16.7
16.a
16.b
17.7
17.8
Targets: The use of facial recognition technologies in public security is a direct affront to the human rights and fundamental rights of citizens. Our proposal relates specifically to goals 11 and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goal. This is because by banning facial recognition in public security we aim to promote more inclusive cities and more effective and actionable institutions.
Description:
Media and public officials frame the acquisition and use of facial recognition in public security as a technological advancement and a positive measure to “fight crime”. However, research shows that systems for facial recognition to identify people remotely by their physical characteristics — or “biometrics” — are often deeply flawed, racially biased, and discriminatory. Regardless of the safeguards and corrections that could be proposed for the creation of an allegedly and supposedly “bug-free” technology, this constant, massive, indiscriminate surveillance is – in itself – a violation of people’s rights and freedoms. That is why there is that is why there is a growing movement around the world to ban use of AI for mass biometric surveillance.
In Brazil, the campaign #Tiremeurostodasuamira call for a ban, not just a moratorium, on facial recognition in the context of public security. That is because many federal units employ facial recognition in public policies, either completely or partially focused on security; and the media unquestioningly report an alleged effectiveness of this type of project for public safety.
Bearing in mind this scenario and the the importance of sharing experiences among the various actions to ban facial recognition technologies in public security around the world, the panel will seek to promote a sharing space of ideas, strategies and methodologies, hearing from the participants eventual previous experiences on acting in different countries - which will potentialise the mobilisation that is being built in Brazil. Our aim is to gather impressions on how to impact public opinion. Also, it is crucial for us to amplify views on how to engage diverse groups that constitute the urban space (communities of color, informal workers, sex workers and other groups that are vulnerable to the state repression, especially because of the surveillance sophistication in public spaces).
The discussions to be established will take place in four stages.
(i) The facilitators will present the status of the campaign so far and will answer any questions that may arise regarding the presentation (about 10 min).
(ii) The questions for the debate will be asked: “how to deconstruct the general idea, common in public opinion, that surveillance through facial recognition is beneficial for public safety?”. and “What must be done to popularize the topic of surveillance through facial recognition among the most diverse groups present in the urban space, especially socially marginalized groups? And, at the same time, what we cannot do if we seek this engagement?”. To collect more responses and help foster the debate, the audience will be divided into 3 breakout rooms, where they will discuss for about 15 minutes. In each room there will be a facilitator to promote the debate and a rapporteur to take note of the discussion.
(iii) Once returning to the plenary, insights from the discussions will be gathered. A summarized overview of the discussed topics may be presented as well as new ideas may come up with the whole group together (about 5-10 minutes).
(iv) The next steps planned for the articulation in Brazil to ban the use of facial recognition technologies in public security will be briefly shared, as well as email contacts for those who want to get in touch with the campaign team.
This workshop proposal is part of the strategy of action and implementation of the campaign #Tiremeurostodasuamira, which calls for a total ban on the use of facial recognition of digital technologies in public security in Brazil and released by more than 30 civil society organizations. Our specific aim is to gather impressions on how to impact public opinion and deconstruct the idea that the use of facial recognition technology is a technological advancement and a positive measure to "fight crime".
We expect, as an outcome of this session, a sharing of views on how to engage diverse groups that constitute the urban space (communities of color, informal workers, sex workers and other groups that are vulnerable to the state repression) in the fight against the deployment of facial recognition technologies in public security in Brazil.
From the sharing of experiences and opinions, we will have a robust material for the improvement of the strategies of the #Tiremeurostasuamira campaign.
Hybrid Format: First, the organizers will meet with the speakers in advance to align the conduct of the session and answer questions related to the IGF rules. In addition, we will have organizers online and present at the event.
On the day of the event, there will be different forms of engagement between the participants and the panelists online and onsite. First, technical support will be provided so that the different break-out group discussion will contain a mix of online and onsite participants.
The discussions to be established will take place in four stages.
(i) The facilitators will present the status of the campaign so far and will answer any questions that may arise regarding the presentation (about 10 min).
(ii) The questions for the debate will be asked: “how to deconstruct the general idea, common in public opinion, that surveillance through facial recognition is beneficial for public safety?”. and “What must be done to popularize the topic of surveillance through facial recognition among the most diverse groups present in the urban space, especially socially marginalized groups? And, at the same time, what we cannot do if we seek this engagement?”. To collect more responses and help foster the debate, the audience will be divided into 3 breakout rooms, where they will discuss for about 15 minutes. In each room there will be a facilitator to promote the debate and a rapporteur to take note of the discussion.
(iii) Once returning to the plenary, insights from the discussions will be gathered. A summarized overview of the discussed topics may be presented as well as new ideas may come up with the whole group together (about 5-10 minutes).
(iv) The next steps planned for the articulation in Brazil to ban the use of facial recognition technologies in public security will be briefly shared, as well as email contacts for those who want to get in touch with the campaign team.
Usage of IGF Official Tool.