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Live Facial Recognition Technology Unlawful, Says UK Equality and Human Rights Commission

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition technology has been deemed unlawful by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), citing its potential to infringe upon human rights laws. The EHRC has expressed concern that the technology's deployment could have a "chilling effect" on individuals' rights, particularly at protests. This ruling comes as the Met prepares to use the technology at the Notting Hill Carnival.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has ruled that the Metropolitan Police's policy on live facial recognition technology is unlawful due to its incompatibility with human rights laws.
  • The EHRC stated that the Met's rules and safeguards for using the technology "fall short" and could infringe upon individuals' rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly.
  • The EHRC believes that the Metropolitan Police's current policy is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights' Article 8 (right to privacy), Article 10 (freedom of expression), and Article 11 (freedom of assembly).
  • Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, and Shaun Thompson, an anti-knife crime community worker, have brought a forthcoming judicial review against the use of live facial recognition technology, claiming Mr. Thompson was "grossly mistreated" after being wrongly identified as a criminal in 2024.
  • John Kirkpatrick, EHRC chief executive, stated that live facial recognition technology could help combat crime, but the biometric data collected is "deeply personal" and requires careful safeguards.
  • Rebecca Vincent, Big Brother Watch interim director, expressed concerns about the rapid proliferation of live facial recognition technology without legislation governing its use, stating it turns people's faces into "barcodes" and makes them "nation of suspects."

Statistics:

  • 2024: The year Shaun Thompson experienced a wrongful identification using live facial recognition technology.
  • 3: Number of human rights laws cited by the EHRC as being potentially infringed by the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition technology (Article 8, 10, and 11).
  • X%: Not specified, but the EHRC has not provided any data on the number of individuals affected by live facial recognition technology in the UK.
  • Y: Not specified, but the EHRC has mentioned the need for careful safeguards to protect individuals from invasion of their personal data.

Sources:

  • Equality and Human Rights Commission press release, citing the European Convention on Human Rights (no date provided)
  • Statement by John Kirkpatrick, EHRC chief executive
  • Rebecca Vincent, Big Brother Watch interim director
  • Statement by Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner
  • Report by Telegraph Reporters

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