What is it?
A strategic guiding paper designed to help organisations navigate the complex policy and procedural issues of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in public places. While drafted in the context of FRT due to current interest in this modality, this guidance is applicable across any biometric that can be captured in public without the intent of the subject. It identifies eight key questions, such as “Is face recognition proportionate to your purpose?” that must be addressed before technical implementation begins.
We recommend members reference this paper alongside the Biometrics Institute’s Facial Recognition Use Case Matrix, which provides essential assistance by outlining various FRT applications in public spaces.
How do members benefit?
This resource provides a structured framework to evaluate the feasibility and ethics of biometric projects before committing significant resources. It will assist with:
- Strategic clarity: Frame a go/no-go decision right at the start of your project
- Risk mitigation: Address potential embarrassment and public perception risks by planning for human error and redress early
- Audit readiness: Documenting answers provides an audit trail of how you arrived at the decision to implement the technology
- Holistic oversight: Ensure executive engagement and understand the impact on internal teams from HR to Legal
Who updates it?
The Institute’s Advisory Council updates the paper as required. It was first released in 2026 drawing on expert insights from our global network to ensure alignment with our good practice guidance tools.
How to access the document and slides
Members: Click here.
Non-members: Find out about becoming a member here.
