EU court challenges French police data practices
Judges say fingerprint and photo collection must meet strict necessity tests.
The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that aspects of France’s biometric data collection system breach the EU law. Judges found that taking fingerprints and photographs of suspects under broad conditions fails to meet strict proportionality standards.
The case examined rules allowing police to collect and store data in the French Traitement des antécédents judiciaires and the Fichier automatisé des empreintes digitales. The court said collection cannot be routine and must meet a threshold of absolute necessity.
Judges also criticised the lack of clear justification for data collection, stating that individuals should receive explanations to exercise their legal rights. Existing rules were found to lack safeguards to ensure the limited and proportionate use of sensitive biometric information in France.
The ruling requires national courts to reassess the framework and could lead to changes in policing practices. It also raises broader questions about large-scale data retention and the balance between security and privacy.
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