Facial Recognition Technology: Protecting Biometric Privacy in the Digital Age

Facial recognition technology (FRT) is increasingly used in sectors like law enforcement, healthcare, and commerce, offering benefits in identity verification and efficiency. However, its deployment raises serious legal and ethical concerns, especially regarding privacy, consent, and data protection. Despite the growing scholarship on FRT, there remains a notable gap in the legal literature concerning its use in sensitive construction environments and critical infrastructure projects where national security and personal privacy intersect. This study critically examines the impact of FRT on privacy rights and identifies regulatory gaps in current legal frameworks. Key challenges include unclear consent mechanisms, insufficient oversight, and inconsistent governance of biometric data. While jurisdictions like the EU have enacted stringent protections, others—such as the US at the federal level—lack comprehensive regulation. To address these issues, the study proposes a robust legislative framework emphasizing biometric data sensitivity, licensing for FRT operators, transparency, and accountability. It advocates for explicit consent protocols, regular compliance audits, and tiered liability systems. By situating the legal analysis within the context of FRT use in the construction industry and security-sensitive sites, the study contributes to the broader discourse on biometric governance. It promotes legal reforms that safeguard individual privacy while enabling the responsible and sector-specific use of FRT.