The French government’s plan to launch facial recognition technology in November with the aim of giving citizens secure digital identities “seems premature,” Digital Minister Cedric O told Le Monde newspaper.

France is set to become the first European country to embrace facial recognition technology with its ID application, Alicem. However, the program is facing strong opposition, says a news report. In addition, a privacy group is challenging the program in an administrative court. 

France's data regulator says the program is designed to give access to personally identifiable information such as income tax information, banking, social security services and utility bills, and in turn, breaches the European rule of consent, notes the report. The government plans to hold a public to help guide how the technology can be implemented, says the report.