In the São Paulo metro, the facial recognition system created by the Russian company was turned off, as it "violates the right of citizens to privacy"

History

2022: Disable the facial recognition system created by the Russian company

On March 25, 2022, the court São Paulo in decided to suspend the introduction of the system facial recognition SecurOS at city metro stations, considering that this project "violates the right of citizens to privacy."

SecurOS is a video surveillance platform with facial recognition based on biometrics, launched by the Russian company ISS in 2019. The project was implemented jointly with the company ViaQuatro, which collects biometric data from the metro in São Paulo.

In the São Paulo metro, the facial recognition system created by the Russian company was turned off, as it "violates the right of citizens to privacy"

Judge Cynthia Tome of the state court of São Paulo ruled in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of public organizations that called for the suspension of the biometric system on the grounds that it violated the right of citizens to privacy, calling it "illegal and excessive."

The human rights group also expressed concerns that the biometric facial recognition system could SecurOS be integrated into the tracking system of other organizations, without the consent of the data subjects.

In addition to suspending the system, the court also banned Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo (METRO) from introducing any new equipment that can collect and process facial recognition data for metro users. The order also provides for a daily fine for the company in case of non-compliance with the court decision.

The ordinance also expresses concern that the metro operator has shown a lack of transparency with regard to proper information on the nature and risks associated with the collection, storage and processing of biometric data of metro users. The regulation adds that the system was also implemented without a proper risk and impact assessment, since the company for collecting biometric data of individuals did not provide information on how the system will work and how the collected biometric data will be processed.

METRO said that it is going to appeal and prove that its system is deployed in accordance with local data protection rules.^[1]

2021: SecurOS-Based Security Implementation

On July 26, 2021, ISS announced the introduction of a security system in the São Paulo metro.

The São Paulo Metro in Brazil for July 2021 consists of 89 stations, combined into 6 lines, one of which is monorail. Passenger traffic is 5 million people daily.

Earlier on the territory of the subway there was a video surveillance system based on analog cameras with very low resolution and image quality, which was clearly not enough to consider details or understand the situation and fully ensure the safety of passengers at the stations.

As part of the presented security system of the São Paulo metro, more than five thousand IP surveillance cameras will operate under the control of the SecurOS. This will significantly increase awareness of the current situation throughout the metro. In the video control zone there will be lobbies of stations, platforms, escalators, crossings and adjacent zones, as well as substations and technological rooms.

As of July 2021, surveillance cameras on the red metro line were commissioned. The modernization of the metro data center is underway, as a result of which the storage life of the video will increase to thirty days.

The security system serves to monitor law and order, prevent and detect cases of theft, hooligan actions, acts of vandalism. Intelligent video surveillance allows you to increase the speed of internal services to respond to emergency situations and makes the metro even more reliable transport for passengers. Video analytics based on artificial intelligence technologies instantly detect incidents, such as a person hitting the rails or entering the technological zone, where finding outsiders is unacceptable, and sends alerts to the Monitoring Center.

The facial recognition system helps in the search for missing people. Based on data received from the video subsystem and video analytics modules, as well as from other subsystems integrated into the SecurOS, action scenarios are automatically generated for employees on the stations. Their use allows you to take appropriate measures faster and more effectively and minimize damage or even prevent the occurrence of an incident.

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