The European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered a decision last Thursday, declaring the obligatory requirement for fingerprints on identity cards as legal under the European Union (EU) law. The ruling conveyed that this measure violates neither the fundamental right of private life protection nor the safeguarding of personal data.
The Court’s statement elucidated that mandatory fingerprint collection is vital in the issuance of identity cards, as it bolsters the authorities in their battle against fraudulent ID cards. This approach, in return, protects data privacy and assists in counter-terrorism actions. The ECJ further indicated that dismissing the provision immediately could have far-reaching negative effects on the safety, freedom, and security of EU citizens.
In a caveat, while declaring the legality of fingerprint inclusion, the Court pronounced the German provision – which necessitated fingerprints – to be invalid, considering it was established on an incorrect legal basis. The Court extended its validity until December 31, 2026, thereby granting the EU enough time to rectify the issue.
The case reached the ECJ via a referral from a German court dealing with a lawsuit filed by a German citizen. The petitioner challenged the legality of the EU regulation making it compulsory for citizens to provide fingerprints for ID card issuance.
More details about the ruling can be found directly on the JURIST report.