Saad Al-Abdullah Academy and Kuwait University hold seminar on legal dimensions of biometric technology

The Director General of The Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences, Brigadier General Ali Al-Wahib, in cooperation with Kuwait University, held a symposium today, Tuesday, which was titled as ‘The Legal Dimensions of the Biometric Footprint in Light of International Human Rights Conventions and Local Legislation’.

The symposium was held under the auspices of the Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior, H. E. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah.

Furthermore, Brigadier General Ali Al-Wahib emphasized during the seminar, that the importance of the event lies in addressing the topic of biometric footprints in a comprehensive and simplified manner, covering its legal, technical, and other dimensions, with the participation of several experienced specialists.

Al-Wahib noted that the symposium reflects the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences’ role in raising awareness and fulfilling its social responsibility. He highlighted the importance of addressing public questions and emphasizing the biometric footprint’s crucial role in the security system, while ensuring alignment with local laws, international conventions, and human rights.

Moreover, Al-Wahib expressed his gratitude to the research sector at Kuwait University for their constructive collaboration with Saad Al-Abdullah Academy in organizing the symposium, especially their efforts in promoting community awareness and fostering a security culture among the public, aiming to advance the interests, security, and safety of Kuwait and its citizens.

On the other hand, the Dean of Kuwait University highlighted, that the symposium includes several workshops and lectures, as well as a live demonstration of the biometric fingerprint procedure for the audience during the event.

The Acting Rector of Kuwait University, Dr. Osama Al-Saeed, stated that the symposium aims to explore the legal dimensions of biometric footprints in the context of international human rights conventions and local laws. He highlighted that the event features specialists from various relevant authorities to promote the safe and effective use of biometric technology.

Al-Saeed added that the symposium, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, reflects a commitment to social responsibility and the national vision. He emphasized that Kuwait University serves as the primary hub for various cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with different sectors, positioning it as a meeting point for expertise and resources to address challenges and obstacles effectively.

What’s more is that Al-Saeed praised the efforts of Saad Al-Abdullah Academy and the research sector at Kuwait University in organizing the symposium, stating that they look forward in continuing to hold seminars and lectures that will raise security awareness, which is in line with Kuwait University’s noble mission of serving the community.

The symposium includes six sessions as follows:

FIRST SESSION: The first of six dialogue sessions, titled ‘What is the Biometric Footprint and How Does It Work?’ was presented by retired team of Dr. Fahad Al-Dosari.

SECOND SESSION: It was titled as ‘Objects of Fingerprinting, Storage Mechanism, and Privacy Protection’ that was presented by, Brigadier General Nayef Al-Mutairi, Director of the Department of Personal Investigation and Machine Research at the General Directorate of Forensic Evidence.

THIRD SESSION: It was titled as ‘International Conventions for the Protection of Human Rights and Their Impact on Biometric Data Collection’ which was presented by Ambassador, H. E. Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Duaij Al-Sabah, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights Affairs.

FOURTH SESSION: It was titled as, titled ‘The Extent of the Biometric Footprint’s Impact on the Work of the Investigating Authority’ which was presented by Counselor Mohammed Al-Duaij, Deputy Director of the Kuwait Institute for Judicial Studies and Judge of the Court of Appeal.

FIFTH SESSION: It was titled as, ‘The Local Legal Framework for the Protection of Biometric Data in Kuwait’ which was presented by Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Professor of Criminal Law at Kuwait University.

SIXTH SESSION: It will be titled as, ‘Local Legislation and the Most Prominent Legal Dimensions of the Biometric Footprint’ which will be presented by Brigadier General Dr. Dari Al-Saeed, Professor of Criminal Law at the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences.