Government to consult on live facial recognition use before wider roll-out

Policing minister Sarah Jones has announced that the government will hold a public consultation on the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology before any nationwide expansion in England. Speaking at the party's annual conference, Jones stressed the need to "put some parameters" around when and where the technology should be deployed, acknowledging the current lack of a clear legal structure.

Jones defended LFR technology, noting its successful deployment in areas like Croydon, which has led to the capture of "hundreds of dangerous criminals." She confirmed that the government views the technology as important for the future and plans to build on the foundation laid by the previous Conservative government.

Despite this support, the announcement comes amid significant criticism from campaign groups. Critics argue that police have been allowed to self-regulate their LFR use and that the technology's algorithms are biased against ethnic minorities and women. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has recently deemed its use unlawful and incompatible with Articles 8, 10, and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. While Jones acknowledged concerns over racial bias, she maintained that the technology has improved over the years and is now "broadly accurate."

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