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Facial recognition
ChinaPolitics

China lays down the law in facial recognition first with focus on privacy, security

Measures from cyberspace regulator and police ministry taking effect on June 1 mark first major attempt to regulate widely used technology

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The widespread use of facial recognition technology in daily life in China has prompted increasing public concerns about privacy and security. Photo: Reuters
William Zheng
The use of facial recognition identification should not be forced upon people, and service providers will be required to offer alternative ID methods, under regulations due to come into effect in China on June 1.

The new rules mark Beijing’s first major attempt to regulate facial recognition, a technology widely adopted around the country – such as at hotel check-ins, entrances to gated communities and to make digital payments.

Jointly released by the Cyberspace Administration of China and Ministry of Public Security on Friday, the final version of “regulations for the safe application of facial recognition technology” comes nearly two years after a public consultation on creating comprehensive guidelines.

The regulations aimed to address “growing concerns” among the public about the risks posed to personal data privacy and security, the authorities said.

China is a global leader in the adoption of facial recognition technology, driven by its robust internet industry and relatively lax regulatory environment on privacy protection. It has also heavily integrated facial recognition into its security surveillance network.

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The new regulation mandates that “voluntary and explicit consent made on the premise of full knowledge” must be obtained “when processing facial information based on individual consent”.

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