Data Protection Commission rules collection of facial biometric data for Public Services Card unlawful (iccl.ie)

• DPC finds DEASP unlawfully collected facial biometrics from 70% of Irish population over 15 years
• €550,000 fine imposed; processing must cease within nine months unless lawful basis found
• ICCL demands immediate deletion of the biometric database and criticizes decision as too late

"Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has ruled that the Department of Social Protection unlawfully collected facial biometric data from 70% of the population over 15 years for the Public Services Card (PSC). The DPC imposed a €550,000 fine and ordered cessation of processing within nine months unless a lawful basis is found. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) calls for immediate deletion of the database."