In a significant move, Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior is planning to authorize the use of facial recognition technology by the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Police to track down suspects.

This initiative, spearheaded by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, aims to enhance the identification of terrorists, particularly those associated with the Islamic State, who may be hiding in Europe.

The proposed legislation would allow law enforcement to match images of suspects from social media and other online sources, although live facial recognition from surveillance cameras at locations like train stations will not be permitted.

This development follows the recent arrest of former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette, who was identified by a journalist using facial recognition software.

The move has sparked a debate, with officials like Lower Saxony's LKA Chief Friedo de Vries advocating for the technology to improve criminal investigations, while emphasizing the need for transparency and legal frameworks to protect citizens' privacy.