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Central London in facial recognition trial | Central London in facial recognition trial |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Christmas shoppers could have their faces scanned in central London this week as part of a police trial. | Christmas shoppers could have their faces scanned in central London this week as part of a police trial. |
The Met says it will invite people to take part in testing the technology rather than scanning people covertly. | |
The trials will be held near Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square on Monday and Tuesday. | The trials will be held near Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square on Monday and Tuesday. |
Privacy campaigner Big Brother Watch has described the use of such technology as "authoritarian, dangerous and lawless". | |
In a statement the group said that "monitoring innocent people in public is a breach of fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of speech and assembly". | In a statement the group said that "monitoring innocent people in public is a breach of fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of speech and assembly". |
Officers say the software can identify people wanted by the police or the courts. | Officers say the software can identify people wanted by the police or the courts. |
An investigation by Big Brother Watch earlier this year suggested the technology flagged up a "staggering" number of innocent people as suspects. | An investigation by Big Brother Watch earlier this year suggested the technology flagged up a "staggering" number of innocent people as suspects. |
The Met said "clear uniformed" officers would carry out the trials and distribute information leaflets to the public for about eight hours on both days. | The Met said "clear uniformed" officers would carry out the trials and distribute information leaflets to the public for about eight hours on both days. |
It added anyone who declined to be scanned during the deployment would "not be viewed as suspicious". | |
The UK's information watchdog started investigating the use of facial recognition technology by police forces in November. | |
Elizabeth Denham, who was appointed Information Commissioner in July 2016, said in a blog published earlier this year that the technology could bring "significant public safety benefits". | Elizabeth Denham, who was appointed Information Commissioner in July 2016, said in a blog published earlier this year that the technology could bring "significant public safety benefits". |
However, she said its application could also be "particularly intrusive", and represented a "real step change in the way law-abiding people are monitored as they go about their daily lives". | However, she said its application could also be "particularly intrusive", and represented a "real step change in the way law-abiding people are monitored as they go about their daily lives". |
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