*UKHotViewsExtra* MPs debate live facial recognition technology

On 13th November, Dame Siobhain McDonagh chaired a Westminster Hall debate on the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology by police. This is a topic that TechMarketView has been tracking for several years and it is one that has raised significant concerns about bias, privacy, and human rights and led to legal challenges.

Previous TMV discussion about LFR

• Facial recognition technology to help tackle retail crime
• MPs call for live facial recognition ban
• Policing Minister calls for more investment in innovative technology
• OBSCC raises police camera security concerns
• Pressure on facial recognition technology usage mounts
• Court of Appeal delivers verdict on AFR
• MPS begins operational use of Live Facial Recognition tech

The debate covered many of the arguments for (e.g., crime prevention and productivity improvements) and against (e.g., privacy, discrimination and bias, and regulatory) the deployment of LFR.

Both the policing minister Diana Johnson and shadow home secretary Chris Philp agreed about the benefits of LFR, highlighting the number of arrests made by the MPS as a result of its deployment across a range of offences, including rape, domestic abuse, knife crime, violent robbery, and registered sex offenders breaching their conditions. Philp also highlighted the effectiveness and productivity improvements of LFR compared to traditional stop and search methods. 

In her concluding remarks, Diana Johnson said there were legitimate concerns about the use of LFR, including misidentification, misuse, and the effect on human rights and individual privacy; however, she said the potential of LFR to contribute to the government’s safer streets mission was clear. Johnson also highlighted how rapid advances in the technology and improvements in the accuracy of algorithms increase its potential. She said she has spoken to senior police leaders and that some felt this lack of a specific legal framework inhibits their use of the technology and dampens willingness to innovate. She said the government is committed to a programme of stakeholder engagement but confirmed that investment is already being made in the roll-out of the LFR vans.

TechMarketView subscribers, including UKHotViews Premium subscribers, can read more about the debate in our expanded UKHotViewsExtra article here. If you aren't a subscriber—or aren't sure if your organisation has a corporate subscription please contact Belinda Tewson to find out more. 

Posted by Dale Peters at '08:25' - Tagged: police   government   regulation   AI   privacy   ethics   law+enforcement   public+safety   legislation   ethical+AI