Effective law enforcement information exchange includes exchanging biometric data, for example fingerprints or facial images, as defined in Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The effective use of biometric data is key to closing the gaps and blind spots that terrorists and other criminals seek to exploit by hiding behind false or multiple identities. Europol’s legal framework already enables Europol to process biometric data for operational purposes and for preventing or combating crime that falls within its objectives, as provided for in Article 30(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794. However, as highlighted by the European Court of Auditors’ special report of 2021 on Europol’s support to fighting migrant smuggling, there is a need to enable Europol to use biometric data effectively. Europol should therefore be enabled to effectively and efficiently process biometric data in order to better support Member States, including in combatting migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
