# Recital (54)

As biometric data constitutes a special category of personal data, it is appropriate to classify as high-risk several 
critical-use cases of biometric systems, insofar as their use is permitted under relevant Union and national law. 
Technical inaccuracies of AI systems intended for the remote biometric identification of natural persons can lead to 
biased results and entail discriminatory effects. The risk of such biased results and discriminatory effects is 
particularly relevant with regard to age, ethnicity, race, sex or disabilities. Remote biometric identification systems 
should therefore be classified as high-risk in view of the risks that they pose. Such a classification excludes AI 
systems intended to be used for biometric verification, including authentication, the sole purpose of which is to 
confirm that a specific natural person is who that person claims to be and to confirm the identity of a natural person 
for the sole purpose of having access to a service, unlocking a device or having secure access to premises. In addition, 
AI systems intended to be used for biometric categorisation according to sensitive attributes or characteristics 
protected under Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the basis of biometric data, in so far as these are not 
prohibited under this Regulation, and emotion recognition systems that are not prohibited under this Regulation, 
should be classified as high-risk. Biometric systems which are intended to be used solely for the purpose of enabling 
cybersecurity and personal data protection measures should not be considered to be high-risk AI systems.

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Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act) as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, consolidated text of 27 July 2026 (Official Journal of the EU). This page is AI-generated legal information, not legal advice. Verify against the Official Journal.
Canonical: https://euaiactlaw.com/recital/54