Monaco Advances Bill No. 1086 Establishing Statutory Framework for Smart Biometric Security Network

Establishing Statutory Guardrails for Smart Public Surveillance

MONTE CARLO, Monaco — In a decisive legislative milestone announced during national policy sessions, the Prince’s Government of Monaco and the National Council have formally advanced Bill No. 1086, creating a comprehensive statutory and legal framework governing remote biometric identification and automated facial recognition technologies across the Principality.

The legislation addresses the operational integration of artificial intelligence with Monaco’s sophisticated network of 1,390 high-definition public security cameras. While Monaco ranks among the safest jurisdictions globally, sovereign authorities recognized the urgent need for codified, statutory rules ensuring that advanced technological policing remains rigorously balanced against individual civil liberties and privacy protections.

Strict Safeguards and Independent APDP Oversight

Under the statutory mandates of Bill No. 1086, indiscriminate or continuous real-time public biometric surveillance is strictly prohibited. The deployment of automated facial recognition algorithms is confined to narrow, legally defined scenarios, including active judicial investigations into serious felony offenses, targeted anti-terrorism operations, and heightened security protocols during major international gatherings such as the Monaco Grand Prix and international economic summits.

Crucially, all algorithm deployments, camera activations, and facial-template comparisons are placed under the direct, independent supervisory jurisdiction of the Personal Data Protection Authority (APDP). The law mandates automated data-purging schedules, robust end-to-end encryption protocols, and periodic external cybersecurity audits to ensure biometric datasets cannot be misused or breached.

Aligning Public Safety with European Digital Standards

Monegasque government ministers and legal representatives emphasized that establishing transparent biometric governance aligns Monaco with the highest standards of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights. As the Principality continues to host world-class international sporting, diplomatic, and maritime summits in Monte Carlo and Port Hercule, Bill No. 1086 ensures that public safety innovation and fundamental human rights operate in complete harmony.