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5d ago

Conservative MPs and Police Union Demand AI Facial Recognition at Germany’s Most Violent Train Stations

Published crime figures back efforts to use facial recognition to fill a 5,000-officer shortfall at Germany’s busiest train hubs.

Polizeikräfte am Frankfurter Hauptbahnhof
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Overview

  • On July 24, the Union parliamentary group and GdP formally called for immediate deployment of AI-powered facial recognition at designated crime hotspots in German train stations.
  • The Bundespolizei’s recently published data ranks Cologne Hauptbahnhof as the most crime-affected with 3,013 offenses between January and May 2025, followed by Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg and others.
  • Proponents argue that proven pilot programs are operationally ready to offset a reported shortfall of 5,000 officers and enhance public safety at major hubs.
  • The coalition agreement between Union and SPD explicitly authorizes video surveillance with automated biometrics and retroactive facial identification for law enforcement.
  • Privacy advocates warn that real-time facial scans could impact uninvolved travelers and the Bundesrat’s earlier veto of a national security law has stalled formal implementation.