IP and analog cameras account for 66% of sales in the country.
For the first time, São Paulo's Carnival will feature a facial recognition system to identify criminals and missing persons. The technology, which compares images of suspects in videos and photos with a database of 30 million photographs, will be in effect starting February 15th – when the pre-Carnival festivities in São Paulo officially begin. Like the capital's Carnival, other states may use the same resource, which in 2019 helped arrest a fugitive in Salvador.
According to the Brazilian Association of Electronic Security Systems Companies (Abese), this is a trend that is expected to become increasingly prevalent at major events. This is because facial recognition systems, in addition to being effective, operate using images captured by video surveillance cameras, which are currently the best-selling products in the sector. IP and analog equipment represent 66% of sales in Brazil. The Brazilian electronic security market generated R$7.17 billion in revenue in 2019 and is projected to grow by 12% in 2020.
However, what about the privacy of revelers? The president of Abese, Selma Migliori, points out that the issue has raised discussions around the world. Some cities in California, such as San Francisco, have even banned the use of the technology by public authorities, understanding that it would be a threat to people's right to anonymity in public spaces. However, from a general point of view, advances in facial recognition are viewed favorably both internationally and in Brazil.
“Abese believes that technological advancement is irreversible, but every new resource needs maturation and some regulation. The important thing is to realize that facial recognition has advanced towards very significant results and, in general, brings far more benefits than setbacks. If we consider the number of unexecuted arrest warrants or the number of missing persons, we will see that technology is an important tool for solving these cases. Furthermore, we ensure that the State increases the range of resources to combat infractions in crowds during Carnival,” explains Migliori.
Regarding the issue of privacy, the president of Abese assures that there is clearly accountability for the misuse of this information, but restricting it solely to public safety, the legislation offers prerogatives for the public authorities to adopt this technology with a view to the collective good, that is, the safety of all true revelers.
From a legal standpoint, Abese's legal advisor, lawyer José Lázaro de Sá, clarifies that facial recognition is biometric data and, therefore, sensitive. For this reason, its use requires great responsibility, especially for commercial purposes, where the context could lead to the misuse of information. To combat this problem, the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) will guarantee the protection of any citizen's data.
“However, when the purpose is something as important as security, the LGPD itself makes an exception to its application in relation to issues exclusively linked to public security. Therefore, we at Abese understand that, for example, monitoring a crowd of people during Carnival celebrations does not imply a violation of the anonymity of the revelers because, in theory, this monitoring is happening to guarantee the protection of citizens, that is, it is in the public interest and for social pacification,” comments José Lázaro de Sá.
Furthermore, Abese emphasizes that throughout Brazil there is a security protocol for the operation and storage of this data, with access restricted to qualified and trained professionals to avoid compromising the inviolability of the information. Even so, both legislation and companies and manufacturers are moving towards a scenario of refined cybersecurity rules and mechanisms that will have to be increasingly comprehensive and advanced to ensure the rights of the State and the citizen.
About ABESE
Founded in 1995, ABESE is a nationwide, non-profit business association representing companies in the electronic security systems sector, dealing with various types of disruptive technologies such as facial recognition, tracking devices, video surveillance, access controls (including remote gate access control), and other resources aimed at optimizing security and promoting intelligent security.
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