France Deploys Facial Recognition in Riot Hunt as TAJ Lookups Tripled Under Illegal Use

Darmanin confirmed that facial recognition is being applied to connect social media imagery with the TAJ.

TAJ database consultations linked to facial recognition grew from approximately 375,000 in 2019 to roughly one million in 2024 — a near-tripling over five years.

The German Federal Police Act, passed July 17, 2026, authorizes live facial recognition in "urgent danger" emergencies — though the law passed amid quorum controversy during the parliamentary session.

Frequently Asked Questions Is it legal for French police to use facial recognition to identify riot suspects?

What is the TAJ database, and how large is it?