Society & rights

Facial recognition at stations: where do Germany’s seven parties stand?

The statement in the quiz

The police should be allowed to use automated facial recognition in public places such as railway stations.

Background

Since February 2025 the EU AI Act has, as a rule, banned law enforcement from using real-time remote biometric identification in public places, with only a few exceptions.

Sources for the background: EU AI Act: Article 5

At a glance

CDU/CSUFor
AfDLeaning against
SPDNot in manifesto
GreensAgainst
Die LinkeAgainst
BSWLeaning against
FDPAgainst

ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto

Party by party

CDU/CSU Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

For

Wants automated facial recognition systems at stations, airports and crime hotspots.

From the manifesto „Systeme zur automatisierten Gesichtserkennung an Bahnhöfen, Flughäfen und anderen Kriminalitätsschwerpunkten“

Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 39

AfD Alternative for Germany

Leaning against

Rejects a surveillance state and blanket video surveillance; at the same time, wants border police to use the latest surveillance systems.

From the manifesto „Die AfD lehnt die Tendenz zum Überwachungsstaat entschieden ab.“

Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 125

SPD Social Democratic Party

Not in manifesto

The manifesto does not mention facial recognition; it backs police use of AI to analyse data.

Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election

Greens Alliance 90/The Greens

Against

Rejects indiscriminate mass surveillance, such as collecting biometric data in public spaces.

From the manifesto „oder die biometrische Erfassung im öffentlichen Raum lehnen wir ab“

Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 115

Die Linke The Left (Die Linke)

Against

Wants to ban biometric video surveillance.

From the manifesto „Biometrische Videoüberwachung und Chat-Kontrollen wollen wir verbieten.“

Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 49

BSW BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)

Leaning against

Wants intensive surveillance limited to terrorism and the most serious crimes, and wants to stop the slide towards total surveillance.

From the manifesto „Diesen Weg in die völlige Überwachung wollen wir stoppen“

Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 43

FDP Free Democratic Party

Against

Rejects automated facial recognition in public spaces.

From the manifesto „Den Einsatz von automatisierter Gesichtserkennung im öffentlichen Raum lehnen wir ab.“

Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 24

Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.

Where do you stand on this one?

This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.

Start the quiz