The conference will build on the fruitful discussions held during two previous conferences devoted to this topic held in Amsterdam (May 2023) and Tallinn (May 2024).

Background
‘Biometrics’ is the automated recognition of individuals based on their biological and behavioural characteristics. It uses such characteristics to recognize persons. Facial recognition is one example of this type of technology, but there are many other characteristics that can also be used, such as hand topography, voice, gait, and DNA. These characteristics are unique, which makes them very suitable for identifying persons with a high degree of certainty.

The technology was initially developed for use in civilian government and commercial applications. Such use is now widespread: examples include biometric recognition to log in to electronic devices, border control, physical access to restricted areas, and online banking. Biometric technology is however also increasingly employed by armed forces. Some of these applications concern the use of biometrics internal to the armed forces, such as limiting access to facilities or particular systems. External applications include their use in military operations to identify personnel and potential security threats.

The military use of biometrics has raised questions concerning the applicable law(s). Which legal regime(s) apply in the first place? How do the rules in those regimes regulate the use of a technology that is not
expressly provided for in those rules? Are new interpretations of existing rules of international law necessary to provide guidance? Does the military use of this technology require completely new rules? What about the interplay between rules from different legal regimes that apply concurrently? And, finally, how can a State best deal with this technology under its domestic law?