Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has launched a public consultation to gather input on draft regulations governing the processing of biometric data. The consultation opened on June 2, 2025, and marks a new phase in the development of Brazil’s regulatory framework for managing sensitive biometric information.
Scope of the Consultation
The proposed rules are expected to address a range of biometric modalities, including fingerprints, facial recognition, and voice patterns. The ANPD aims to clarify how these technologies may be used under Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD), which classifies biometric data as sensitive personal information subject to heightened protection.
The initiative follows earlier actions by the ANPD in response to concerns about how biometric data is being collected and used in Brazil. In recent years, the country has seen increasing deployment of biometric systems, including facial recognition technologies for domestic air travel, first tested at Congonhas Airport in 2021.
Regulatory Goals and Context
Key areas expected to be covered in the forthcoming regulations include security standards for data storage, limitations on processing and sharing, data subject rights, and organizational compliance obligations. The consultation is part of the ANPD’s broader mandate to enforce the LGPD, which was enacted in 2018 and came into effect in 2020. The ANPD itself was established to oversee implementation of the law and has since issued a number of sector-specific guidelines and enforcement actions.
While the public consultation formally opened on June 2, the ANPD has not yet specified a deadline for submissions or outlined the procedures for participation. The agency is expected to publish more details in the coming weeks, including timelines for public feedback and the regulatory review process.
This consultation comes amid broader global scrutiny of data protection practices, particularly those involving biometric data in both public and private sector applications. The ANPD’s initiative provides an opportunity for businesses, civil society groups, and technical experts to contribute to the development of Brazil’s evolving privacy framework.
Sources: Mattos Filho, VitalLaw
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June 5, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
