PRAGUE, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Ministry of Interior is preparing a bill that would help sports clubs better enforce their bans against rowdy attendees from sports matches through the use of a facial recognition database, local media reported on Sunday.
The framework of this bill would connect cameras at sports events to facial recognition software and a database of "problem fans" for clubs to share. Along with this, the bill plans to implement a fine of up to 10,000 to 50,000 Czech crowns (436 to 2,183 U.S. dollars) for repeated use of pyrotechnics in stadiums, according to the Czech TV (CT) reports.
Currently, safety procedures at premier league football clubs allow personal check-up to prevent dangerous objects or pyrotechnics from entering stadiums. The events inside the stadium are also monitored by camera systems and security staff.
The Office for Personal Data Protection complained about the possible use of facial recognition but the Ministry of the Interior reiterated the strict conditions of their use under the framework of the new bill, said the reports. Facial recognition for commercial or marketing use, said the Ministry, will be strictly forbidden.
Statistics from the Police Presidium showed that in 2019 police officers dealt with 31 crimes and 257 misdemeanors in football competition. In less than 100 cases it was a violation of public order, 20 times they dealt with vandalism and eight cases involved in attacking police officers.
