The **Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)**, the **Association of Technology, Education, Development, Research, Communication (TEDIC)**, and the **Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)** have escalated a critical privacy and transparency dispute to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Their complaint targets the Paraguayan state for its arbitrary denial of information regarding the implementation and use of facial recognition technology, which the organizations contend constitutes mass surveillance. ### The Genesis of the Complaint The case originates from the **Ministry of the Interior** and **National Police's** 2019 installation of surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology in Asunción. **Maricarmen Sequera**, a lawyer and executive director of **TEDIC**, subsequently filed an information request seeking comprehensive details and protocols concerning these systems and the associated personal data processing. ### Unanswered Questions and State Secrecy **TEDIC's** request aimed to ascertain if the state had conducted human rights or data protection impact assessments, and whether measures and protocols were in place to prevent abuses, illicit data use, and other risks inherent in such deployments. However, the state largely denied the request, citing the confidentiality of security information related to implementation details, protocols, and personal data processing. Attempts by **TEDIC** to challenge this secrecy in Paraguayan courts were unsuccessful. ### Upholding Inter-American Standards The petition submitted to the Inter-American Commission argues that Paraguay's actions disregard established Inter-American standards that uphold the public's right to access information, particularly concerning national security matters. It further asserts that the denial violates citizens' privacy and their fundamental right to informational self-determination. ### Demands for Transparency and Accountability The complainants are asking the Commission to recognize the violation of these rights and compel the state to release the requested information. Beyond this specific case, the petition seeks an order for Paraguay to establish mandatory, permanent mechanisms for active transparency regarding the acquisition, contracting, implementation, financing, functioning, and use of all state surveillance technologies, especially those involving biometric data or artificial intelligence. Furthermore, it calls for the state to adopt mandatory procedures for human rights impact assessments before acquiring and deploying any surveillance technologies, particularly those that collect biometric data or utilize AI. ### A Regional Pattern of Opacity This incident is not isolated. Opacity in security and surveillance matters is a concerning norm across Paraguay and Latin America, exacerbated by the increasing adoption of intrusive surveillance technologies by states in the region. The **Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission** has previously emphasized the necessity for states to disclose surveillance capabilities and contracts in detail. This transparency is crucial for fostering informed public debate on surveillance limitations in democratic societies and ensuring compliance with international human rights law. The petitioners express hope that the Inter-American Commission will reinforce robust safeguards within the Inter-American System, advancing both access to information and privacy rights, thereby setting a vital precedent for the entire region.