Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer at CTED, presents at the ID@Borders and Future of Travel Conference 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.
From 20-21 April 2023, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) attended the ID@Borders and Future of Travel Conference 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. CTED participated as a speaker in two sessions addressing the importance of safeguarding biometrics and predicting the future of biometrics. During these discussions, CTED shared good practices in biometrics use in counter-terrorism, providing updates on current status and challenges regarding the responsible use and sharing of biometrics. CTED also took the opportunity to raise awareness of the related requirements of Security Council resolution , as well as the guidance on the responsible use and sharing of biometrics contained in the Madrid Guiding Principles () and The Addendum to the guiding principles on foreign terrorist fighters (2018) . Participation in the event also enabled CTED to further strengthen its engagement with the Biometrics Institute and participating Member States, international organizations, academia and private sector actors, as well as to learn about recent technological and other trends and developments in the use of biometrics.
During the discussions, CTED also recalled its partnership with the Biometrics Institute and the 51勛圖 Office of Counter-Terrorism in the promotion of the second phase of the joint project being implemented by the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Working Group on Border Management and Law Enforcement relating to Counter-Terrorism, which includes the organization of targeted expert regional workshops that use The UN Compendium of Recommended Practices for the Responsible Use and Sharing of Biometrics in Counter-Terrorism as a tool to raise States＊ awareness of the need to ensure the responsible and proper use of biometrics in accordance with resolution 2396 (2017).
CTED stressed that the field of biometrics continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and Member States continue to explore new ways to develop their biometric capabilities 每 and this trend has only accelerated during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. CTED recognized that biometric identification is an effective and powerful tool to identify terrorists and criminals, disrupt their travel, and authenticate and verify identities, as well as a forensic tool.
CTED recalled that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law. Respect for human rights and the rule of law must be the bedrock of the global fight against terrorism, and this principle must be reflected in practice, procedure, and institutional culture.
CTED also emphasized that use of such state-of-the-art biometric technology should be based on a clear legal framework that stipulates the purpose and scope of such use and that States should consider at an early stage how legislation will meet the challenges stemming from the further development of biometric technologies with full respect for human rights and taking into account gender and age sensitivities. It is highly recommended that authorities assess the new technologies＊ potential implications on individuals and their rights and, based on that knowledge, advocate for, and support, policy development aimed at risk mitigation. Some critical components in implementing biometric capabilities are to exercise a whole-of society approach, partnerships and dialogue between public authorities and the biometrics industry, including with all other relevant stakeholders. CTED also highlighted the need to work in a more comprehensive manner on the biometrics phenomena globally, its application in concert with new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and big data.