Plans to expand laws on use of facial recognition technology

Justice Minister Helen McEntee is seeking to expand controversial new laws to help to quell riots and disorder. File picture: PA

The Government is to fast-track and expand controversial new laws to help to quell riots and disorder as it deals with the fallout from last week’s violent scenes in Dublin.

Embattled Justice Minister Helen McEntee is to bring forward legislation to enable facial recognition technology (FRT) to quickly prosecute offenders involved in violence and looting. The use of the technology was initially drawn up to deal with murder, rape, terrorism, and child sexual abuse.