Week-ending 17 September 2021
A federal law (No. 123-FZ) adopted in April 2020 entitled “On Experimenting with Artificial Intelligence” has allowed Moscow authorities to test facial recognition, and other new technologies, free of most personal data legislation restrictions. This week Human Rights Watch issued a statement that ‘ Russian authorities continue expanding their use of facial recognition technology across the country, with no regulation, oversight, or data protection and against the backdrop of misidentification reports […]. Their unregulated use of the technology has serious implications for human rights and fundamental freedoms and has already facilitated Russian authorities’ targeting of political opponents.’ Human Rights Watch quoted human rights lawyer Kirill Koroteev, head of international justice programme at Agora international human rights group, as saying: “Federal law on experimenting with artificial intelligence made Moscow authorities feel like they can do whatever they want. Thus, they do not only neglect the legislation on personal data but also disregard international standards.”
Sources:
Law ‘On Experimenting with Artificial Intelligence.’ [Federal Law of 24.04.2020 № 123-FZ “On the experiment to establish special regulation in order to create the necessary conditions for the development and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in the subject of the Russian Federation – the city of federal significance Moscow and amending Articles 6 and 10 of the Federal Law” On personal data], Official Internet Portal for Legal Information.
Human Rights Watch, 15 September 2021: Russian authorities continue expanding their use of facial recognition technology across the country, with no regulation, oversight, or data protection and against the backdrop of misidentification reports, Human Rights Watch said today. Their unregulated use of the technology has serious implications for human rights and fundamental freedoms and has already facilitated Russian authorities’ targeting of political opponents.
