Ⅰ. Guaranteeing the Fundamental Human Freedoms: 3. Privacy and the Right to Self-Determination of Personal Information
the immigration inspection, and the project is being implemented with private
companies in accordance with the rules on the “outsourcing of personal
information processing” pursuant to the [Personal Information Protection Act].
Also, the private companies are taking security measures, and plans to continue
management and supervision in the future.56)
Local governments are implementing several facial recognition system projects.
Bucheon-si in Gyeonggi province is developing an “AI History System” that can
track confirmed COVID-19 cases’ routes, wearing of masks, close contacts, etc.
using CCTVs installed in the district and the facial recognition technology, with the
goal of introducing it in early 2022. Ansan-si, also in Gyeonggi province is
developing a system that can detect child-abuse in real time by automatically
detecting negative emotions displayed or abuse, etc. captured through CCTV
within the daycare centers in the district and notifying to the relevant agencies,
and the goal is to introduce a pilot system during 2022. Jeju is also operating a pilot
system that notifies 112 situation rooms, etc. when CCTV, with facial recognition
technology, captures the specific person near homes or people under protective
custody.
B) Biometric Information and the Possibility of “Mass Surveillance”
Information that analyzes the facial features of a specific person used in the
facial recognition are biometric information, and it is combined with that person
during his/her lifetime and the information that cannot be easily changed, unlike
other personal information, such as name, address, identification number and
passwords, etc. Biometric information has a strong personal nature57) that can be
obtained from the body itself, and can be used as a connecting link to a database.
However, the risk of danger to the data subject is great when the accumulated data
are used improperly or leaked.
56) MOJ and MSIT Press Release, Oct. 21, 2021.
57) Refers to nature that is vested to a specific person only in law and cannot be transferred to another.
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