Oxford Street facial recognition plans

Responding to reports that permanent live facial recognition cameras could be deployed on Oxford Street, Ruth Ehrlich, Director of External Relations at Liberty, said:

“The prospect of permanent live facial recognition cameras being introduced on Oxford Street marks a significant expansion of surveillance in public spaces. This technology scans the faces of everyone who passes by, regardless of whether they are suspected of any wrongdoing.”

“If live facial recognition is to be deployed in one of the country’s busiest shopping and tourist destinations, there must be full transparency about how it will be used, what safeguards are in place, and how its impact on people’s rights will be monitored.”

“The Government has promised a legal framework for live facial recognition. The Met should not be rolling out more of this technology before that framework is in place. Permanent cameras on Oxford Street would be a significant escalation in our nation’s capital.”