Liberty responds to plans for facial recognition expansion in London’s West End

In response to the announcement today, Akiko Hart, Liberty director said:

“The news that the Metropolitan Police are planning to roll out live facial recognition cameras at pace across London is very troubling and represents a major escalation in the use of this technology.

“Robust safeguards, oversight, and transparency on the use of facial recognition cameras should have been in place before they were ever introduced to our city centres and high streets. To reach the level of fixed cameras across the capital before we even have a law in place is deeply concerning.

“The Government has committed to a dedicated legal framework for facial recognition technology. It is vital that this includes clear and consistent rules around how the police use facial recognition to ensure the rights of the public are protected at all times. Until this in place the Metropolitan Police should pause their use of the technology, not expand it.”