Report | Amplifying Global South Voices in Digital Rights Policymaking | Governance and Regulation

Sports, Data, and Rights: The Use of Facial Recognition in Brazilian Stadiums

The increasing datification of public spaces, especially in leisure and cultural environments such as soccer stadiums, requires a critical assessment of the implications for citizens’ rights and freedoms. The project aims to analyze the impacts of facial recognition in Brazilian stadiums. By mapping facial recognition and examining its consequences, the project aims to contribute to an informed debate and the development of public policies that safeguard fundamental rights and promote a fairer and more democratic society. In addition, analyzing the impacts relating to markers of difference is essential to understanding and combating the forms of discrimination these
technologies can exacerbate.

The project is divided into two phases: research and advocacy. In the research phase, we will collect and analyze data acquired through transparency portals o, reports in mainstream media, and requests under the Access to Information Act. We also interviewed experts, public and private managers, fans, and representatives of organized supporters.

In the advocacy stage, we will hold a series of conversations with public and private managers, activists from Brazil and other countries, organized supporters, and fans in order to establish a dialogue about the research findings and exchange information and methodologies.

This report was prepared by the Center of Security and Citizenship Studies (CESeC) and was an outgrowth of the Datafication and Democracy Fund, launched in 2024 to support organizations addressing the challenges of the intersection of datafication and democracy in the #GlobalSouth.

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