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Facial Recognition Regulation in 2026: The Laws, Bans, and Global Shift Reshaping Biometric Surveillance 2026 marks a turning point for facial recognition technology.  After years of legal disputes and fragmented rules, governments—especially in Europe—are moving from general data protection frameworks to direct, enforceable regulation of AI systems themselves. The result is a fundamental shift: facial recognition is no longer just a privacy issue—it is now a regulated high-risk technology with explicit legal boundaries. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the most important regulatory changes affecting facial recognition in 2026, what they require, and what they mean in practice. 1. 2026: The Year AI Regulation Becomes Enforceable The most important global development is the implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act)—the first comprehensive law directly regulating AI systems. • The Act entered into force in 2024 • Key provisions began a...