London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has significantly increased its use of live facial recognition technology (LFT). According to data compiled by the City Hall Greens, LFT was deployed 117 times from January to August 2024, a significant increase compared to the 32 times it was deployed over the previous four years. During this time, LFT has scanned an estimated 770,966 people in the capital, with the most targeted areas being Croydon and Westminster. Campaigners, such as Silkie Carlo from Big Brother Watch, have raised privacy concerns and are pursuing legal challenges against the force's use of the technology. However, Lindsey Chiswick, Director of Intelligence for the MPS and LFT lead for the National Police Chiefs' Council, claims that the technology operates with zero bias at the thresholds operated by the force and has been 89% accurate according to testing. Chiswick went on to say that MPS's use of LFT has resulted in over 360 arrests this year and the apprehension of more than 30 sex offenders.
In related news, an article in The Scotsman reports that privacy rights campaigners and experts are calling for Police Scotland to drop its plans to plan to roll out LFT.
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