European Parliament lawmakers approved a regulation expanding Europol’s capabilities in biometric data processing on 7 November 2025, with final plenary vote expected later in November. The regulation enables Europol to effectively and efficiently process biometric data to support Member States in addressing irregular migration and closing gaps exploited by terrorists and criminals hiding behind false or multiple identities. Over 21 million euros will be allocated over three years for biometric systems development and upgrades to Europol’s SIENA system. Civil society organisations have criticised the proposal as a dangerous step towards mass surveillance in the EU, with concerns about inadequate safeguards and disproportionate expansion of digital surveillance infrastructure.
Original source: Biometric Update
Retrieved: 2025-11-11 | Language: EN | Reading time: 4 min read