Met to expand use of live facial recognition into central London by Christmas

The Metropolitan Police will expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology into central London by Christmas, with plans to deploy it in six additional areas next year. Fixed cameras, potentially mounted on street furniture like lamp-posts, will be used for this expansion. Critics have voiced concerns, stating that these new deployments will subject tens of thousands of individuals to a "digital police lineup." The Metropolitan Police has previously trialed LFR technology in various locations across London, including a pilot in the West End in 2022. The expansion aims to enhance public safety and aid in identifying individuals of interest in real-time. However, privacy advocates and civil liberties groups have consistently raised alarms about the potential for mass surveillance and the erosion of anonymity in public spaces. They argue that the technology's accuracy rates, particularly for certain demographic groups, remain a significant concern, leading to potential misidentification and wrongful accusations. The force has stated that the technology is used to identify individuals with outstanding warrants or those suspected of serious offenses, and that data is handled in accordance with strict privacy regulations. The expansion into more boroughs signifies a continued commitment by the Metropolitan Police to integrate advanced surveillance tools into their operational strategies, despite ongoing public debate and scrutiny.