Do new police cameras breach human rights?
SAN Francisco has banned police and government bodies from using facial recognition technology.
In May, the Californian city became the first in the US to take such a step, claiming the technology could ‘threaten our ability to live free of continuous government monitoring’. The ban does not cover airports or other areas that are regulated by the US federal government.
THE increasing use of facial recognition technology by police is to be investigated amid fears over privacy.
MSPs will examine whether the use of the technology, including software used to gather and store images, breaches human rights.
It follows warnings over the use of such technology south of the Border that ‘dangerously irresponsible’ programmes could single out minorities.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) has said the country’s new biometric watchdog must ensure facial recognition software does not breach human rights laws. A Bill going through Holyrood will install a commissioner whose remit will include oversight of facial recognition.
Holyrood’s justice sub-committee on policing said that it would investigate the human rights implications of the advances in software.
Police Scotland already uses retrospective facial recognition technology from recorded CCTV, which is matched against faces in the Police National Database.
New technology means images could now come from body-worn cameras or mobile phones, and MSPs are seeking evidence on the use of facial recognition and how it is accessed and stored.
Committee convener John Finnie said: ‘Facial recognition could be a useful tool for police in fighting crime and keeping communities safe.
‘However, it should not be forgotten that this technology is invasive to citizens’ privacy.
‘The human rights and legal implications of using facial recognition need to be understood.’
In a previous submission to MSPs, HMICS warned of a negative public perception of facial recognition technology.
The inspectorate said: ‘Several UK police forces outside of Scotland have been publicly criticised for the use of automated biometric technologies, which contain algorithms delivering unintended racial and gender bias.
‘This has led to some facial recognition systems used by the police in England and Wales being described in the popular media as “dangerously irresponsible”.’