Identificatie versus privacy

: Een empirisch onderzoek naar de ervaring van politieambtenaren inzake de bodycamera met al dan niet de integratie van gezichtsherkenning

Abstract

In recent years, more and more videos have been circulating on the internet of police officers carrying out an intervention or an arrest, whether heavy-handed or not. This is one of the reasons why the body camera was introduced, on the one hand, to counter the number of complaints against the police and, on the other hand, to reduce violence against and by police officers. However, there seem to be different opinions among police officers about wearing and using the body camera. The integration of facial recognition could potentially change the perception of the body camera, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages that it will bring. For example, it may help police officers locate missing persons, suspects, or fugitives more quickly, but it also conflicts with the privacy and data protection of citizens (Giddings, 2020). The aim of this study is to investigate how police officers experience the wearing and use of body cameras and what their position is on the integration of facial recognition in the body camera. To verify this, an extensive literature review, online surveys with Antwerp police officers and a personal interview with an expert were used. This made it possible to understand their personal experience and also to take some anonymity into account. This research has shown that both the opinions on wearing and using the body camera and the views on integrating facial recognition into the body camera differ greatly among police officers. Both principles have many advantages and disadvantages associated with their use. Therefore, it can be concluded that police officers would generally be positive about wearing and using the body camera, even if facial recognition were integrated into it. Since the field of vision is extended and persons will be traced and identified more quickly. Nevertheless, the unrecognizability of a person or the intrusion into the privacy of the citizen must be taken into account.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	Dutch
Supervisor	Lucas De Melo Melgaço (Promotor)