Liberty responds to Government’s facial recognition proposals

Responding to the Government’s proposal for a new legal framework covering police use of facial recognition technology, Liberty Director Akiko Hart said:

“Much like the nine months it took the Government to publish its consultation response, legal safeguards governing the use of facial recognition technology have been long overdue.

“Millions of people have had their faces scanned without their consent. We’ve seen people hauled out of their homes after being misidentified by racially biased algorithms, and facial recognition deployments are fast becoming a fixture on our high streets, at football matches and music events.

“While the announcement that new safeguards will be introduced is a step in the right direction, now that the Government has recognised stronger legislation is needed it must now finally hit pause on the rapid rollout of facial recognition technology until this is in place with the robust transparency, oversight and safeguards needed to protect us all.”