The ICCL believe there’s no good reason for their introduction.
The introduction of body-worn cameras for Gardaí would not have positive effects and may breach the privacy rights of the public, the government has been warned.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has warned the devices are “invasive”, “unnecessary” and has argued against the justifications provided for their introduction.
The introduction of body-worn cameras has been requested by frontline Garda groups such as the Garda Representative Association, having been first mooted by the Commission on the Future of Policing.
Minster for Justice Charlie Flanagan has indicated that legislation will be introduced to allow their use.
But the ICCL is firmly against the devices and called on the government to immediately halt the roll-out of the technology, saying that the potential for intrusive data-gathering using such technologies was “beyond concerning”.
“ICCL sees no appropriate justification for their obvious intrusion on our privacy. Mass surveillance of the population is extremely problematic. ICCL believes that the infringements to fundamental rights far outweigh the supposed benefits of this technology,” ICCL’s Senior Research and Policy Officer, Doireann Ansbro, said.
The group stated they had debunked seven of the justifications which were offered by the Department of Justice earlier this year, and they’ve submitted their findings to the state.
“There is no good evidence for the positive impact of their use and therefore no good reason for their introduction in Ireland,” Ansbro said.
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