Police forces in South Wales and Gwent are launching an Operator Initiated Facial Recognition (OIFR) app that will allow officers to use their phones to confirm someone's identity. The move follows a trial of the app involving 70 officers in 2023. The app can assist in identifying unconscious or deceased individuals, as well as the identity of someone who is missing, at risk or wanted in relation to a criminal investigation.
The police are keen to point out that the app would help settle cases of mistaken identity without needing to visit police stations or custody suites. In addition, any images captured with the app will not be stored, and any photos taken in private settings will be restricted to scenarios involving significant harm risks.
In a statement responding to the news, Jake Hurfurt, Head of Research and Investigations at Big Brother Watch, said: "On-the-spot face scans could turn South Wales into a 'papers please' society and undermine our right to go about our business without having to explain or identify ourselves to police officers."
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