Report raises concerns over Met Police trials of live facial recognition technology
A new report produced by researchers from the Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project based at the University of Essex’s Human Rights Centre identifies “significant flaws” with the way in which live facial recognition technology was trialled in London by the Metropolitan Police Service.
This is the first independently-funded academic report into the use of live facial recognition technology by a UK police force and it raises concerns about the Metropolitan Police Service’s procedures, practices and Human Rights compliance during the trials.
The authors of the report, namely Professor Peter Fussey and Dr Daragh Murray, conclude that it’s “highly possible” the Metropolitan Police Service’s use of live facial recognition to date would be held unlawful if challenged in a Court of Law. They’ve also documented what they believe to be “significant operational shortcomings” in the trials which may well affect the viability of any future use of live facial recognition technology.
In light of their findings, Professor Fussey and Dr Murray are calling for all live trials of live facial recognition to be ceased until these concerns are addressed, noting that it’s essential Human Rights compliance is ensured before deployment, and that there be an appropriate level of public scrutiny and debate on a national level.