Hammersmith and Fulham Council to introduce facial recognition CCTV

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is set to upgrade its CCTV infrastructure with a £3.2 million investment in facial recognition and AI-assisted cameras. The west London borough approved the funding, stating that the move will "improve crime detection and prevention" and elevate its surveillance capabilities. 

Live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, which will match faces against a police database, are proposed for ten crime hotspots, subject to police approval. In addition, AI capabilities will be added to a further 500 cameras, enabling more efficient video playback, automatic vehicle tracking, and retrospective facial recognition (RFR). A report also recommended the introduction of drones as an "enforcement aid." The council leader said the authority is "pioneering the use of artificial intelligence" to identify criminals.

In related news, an article by The New York Times (£) discusses the UK government's rapid expansion of digital surveillance and internet regulation, which has placed Britain at the forefront of a debate on the balance between security, privacy, and civil liberties. Critics argue that Britain has gone too far, but supporters view the measures as a pragmatic way to adapt to technological change.

According to a spokesman from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the government makes "no apologies" for using modern tools to tackle crime, protect children, and secure its borders. He added that the focus is on "safety and national security, not unnecessary intrusion." The article also quotes Ryan Wain of the Tony Blair Institute, who said a "big philosophical debate" is ongoing about the meaning of freedom versus safety.