Sweden has proposed controversial legislation that would give its police force broad powers to use AI-powered facial recognition technology for identifying and tracking criminal suspects in real-time. The bill, announced this week, would allow law enforcement to deploy AI cameras in public spaces like streets, train stations, and squares to detect wanted individuals, even in crowds.
The proposed law would specifically target serious crimes carrying prison sentences of four years or more, including murder, rape, and weapons offenses. It would also enable police to use the technology to prevent terrorist attacks and locate missing persons in human trafficking or kidnapping cases.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer defended the measure as a crucial tool for preventing violence, asserting, “By getting a direct hit when such individuals pass a camera, the police’s ability to intervene to prevent shootings and explosions will increase significantly.”
The proposal comes amid growing scrutiny of facial recognition technology in law enforcement across Europe. Last month, German regulators ordered the deletion of biometric data collected by a major tech company, citing privacy violations under GDPR regulations.
Privacy advocates and data protection officials have raised significant concerns about the Swedish proposal’s scope and potential for abuse. The government’s own investigator acknowledged these concerns, noting that “the use of such systems involves a potential major intervention in personal integrity, as they enable surveillance of a large number of people.”
Critics worry about mission creep beyond stated law enforcement purposes and the potential chilling effect on civil liberties, including freedom of assembly and expression. The proposal’s timing is particularly notable as major facial recognition providers like Clearview AI are increasingly focusing on government contracts.
The bill is currently in a stakeholder comment period and, if passed, would take effect on January 1, 2026. Its implementation would represent one of Europe’s most extensive deployments of AI-powered surveillance technology by law enforcement.
Sources: Sweden Herald, Britannica
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March 20, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy
