Human rights regulator criticises Met's use of facial recognition cameras

The Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC has raised concerns about the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition technology LFRT, saying it may be breaking human rights laws. LFRT works by scanning people's faces in public places using CCTV cameras and then checking those faces against a watchlist of people wanted by the police. Since January 2024, the Met Police claims to have made over 1,000 arrests using this technology and insists that its use is legal and justified. However, the EHRC argues that the police should only use LFRT when it is truly necessary and in a way that is fair and balanced. They believe the current policy does not meet these requirements.

The EHRC has been given permission to take part in a judicial review, which is a court case that will look at how the Met Police uses LFRT. This review is scheduled for January 2026. John Kirkpatrick, the chief executive of the EHRC, said that while facial recognition technology can help fight serious crime and protect people, there must be strict rules to make sure it is only used when needed and with proper safeguards. He stated that the Met Police's current policy does not meet these standards. The police, on the other hand, say they are confident their use of LFRT is lawful and that they are fully involved in the upcoming court process.

The EHRC is worried that the way the Met Police uses LFRT could break important human rights, such as the right to privacy, freedom of speech, and the right to gather in groups. These rights are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. Last month, the Met Police said LFRT helped them arrest people suspected of serious crimes, including paedophiles, rapists, and violent robbers. Out of those arrested, 773 have been charged or cautioned. The police plan to use LFRT at major events like the Notting Hill Carnival. However, civil rights groups and privacy campaigners have always opposed LFRT, saying it invades privacy and can wrongly identify people. The Met Police defends its use, saying it helps keep the public safe. At the moment, there are no specific UK laws that control how police use live facial recognition technology. This issue is part of a larger debate about how new technology affects policing and people's rights.