By Belize Live News Staff: The Belize Police Department has temporarily suspended its agreement with U.S. facial recognition company Biometrica due to concerns about the transfer of sensitive data overseas. The deal, aimed at enhancing the identification and tracking of suspects, hit a roadblock over the requirement to share Belize’s criminal database, including biometric fingerprint data, with the U.S. firm.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams stated that the agreement is on hold while authorities explore options to ensure that Belizean data remains within the country. “If it is that they can develop software and then we just get that software without the exchanging of data where we can keep our data in-house, then we may be able to go with that,” Williams said. He indicated that if a solution to address data sovereignty concerns cannot be found, Belize will seek alternative software providers.
Adding to the complexity, Williams revealed that Biometrica’s software is reportedly facing challenges in other Caribbean nations, and the company itself has expressed reservations about proceeding with the agreement due to unspecified software issues.
This development comes as Belize is actively working on a national biometric strategy approved in June, highlighting the country’s commitment to utilizing biometric technology while navigating potential privacy and security risks.
The pause in the Biometrica deal reflects a growing global trend of governments and law enforcement agencies navigating the balance between leveraging advanced technologies like facial recognition and safeguarding sensitive citizen data.
