Met to run facial recognition trials despite legal challenge

THE Metropolitan Police is set to press ahead with trials of controversial facial recognition technology even though it faces legal action over it for potentially breaching human rights.

Critics have said the software, which matches faces to a database of criminals, is “racist” because it was more likely to be incorrect when used on black people.

But a trial today in Stratford, east London, will use the software. Last night, police said that the technology would be “used overtly” and that information leaflets would be distributed to the public in Stratford to make them aware of the trial.

It is going ahead despite the launch of a legal challenge this week. Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch and Baroness Jenny Jones claim the technology is inaccurate and breaches the Human Rights Act.

Another civil liberties organisation, Open Rights Group, which aims to safeguard digital freedoms, said: “Mobile facial recognition cameras have been found to have racial biases, particularly affecting black people, and can lead to discriminatory policing.”

The Metropolitan Police has dismissed the criticism and insists the technology increases citizens’ safety.

Big Brother Watch obtained police figures in May revealing that 98 per cent of the Met’s facial recognition “matches” were wrong.

Det Supt Bernie Galopin said that the Met has committed to 10 trials of the technology, which will result in an independent evaluation at the end of the year.

Police believe the technology has the potential to provide a powerful tool for law enforcement, especially when dealing with large crowds.

Anyone who declines to be scanned during the deployment will not be viewed as suspicious by police officers, the force said.