Seeking to assuage privacy concerns, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications yesterday said that facial recognition technology will only be deployed at the country’s official ports of entry as part of the “Safe City” component of the National Broadband Project.
The ministry made the announcement in a statement which came after weeks of public concerns that fundamental rights could be under threat and that images gathered by the cameras could be improperly used. “Given the system design of Guyana’s current internal mechanisms, we reassure the public that this Safe City System will not violate anyone’s fundamental human rights,” it said. “For the first time, police and emergency services will have their own dedicated network for real-time communication to protect and assist the public, and for disaster relief,” it added.
It identified the Cheddi Jagan International Air-port, the Eugene F. Correia International Airport and the Moleson Creek Ferry Crossing as the ports of entry where the technology would be used.
