Facial Recognition Widely Deployed
In the United Kingdom, millions of people are being scanned by real-time facial recognition systems outside supermarkets and at crowded festivals. At London’s Notting Hill Carnival, cameras are stationed at entrances and exits, scanning faces against police watchlists. Officials said the technology helps identify suspects in large gatherings and has led to over 1,000 arrests since early 2024.
Growing Use of AI Surveillance
The system, first tested in 2016, is now being widely deployed. In 2024 alone, 4.7 million faces were scanned, according to Liberty. Police have used the technology more than 100 times since January, compared with only 10 deployments between 2016 and 2019. Events like rugby matches, concerts, and even the coronation of King Charles III saw heavy use of the system.
Rising Privacy and Rights Concerns
Critics argue that mass surveillance treats citizens like suspects. Advocacy groups, including Big Brother Watch and Human Rights Watch, warn of racial bias and unlawful policing. Human rights experts stressed that constant scanning eliminates anonymity in cities, discouraging political participation and protests. Retailers are also adopting the technology through providers like Facewatch, profiling suspected shoplifters. Many shoppers remain unaware that their data is being recorded.
Government Response and Legal Challenges
While the EU banned real-time facial recognition this year, the UK has expanded its use to seven new regions. Interior Minister Yvette Cooper promised a legal framework to limit the technology to serious crimes, but permanent cameras are scheduled to be installed in Croydon next month. The UK’s human rights regulator recently ruled police use of the technology unlawful, citing violations of rights protections.
Community leaders accuse the Metropolitan Police of unfairly targeting Afro-Caribbean communities during Carnival. Several individuals have already challenged wrongful arrests caused by misidentification, raising questions about accountability and safeguards.
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