UK's ICO Says Police Use of Facial Recognition Tech Has Pros and Cons
Facial recognition technology brings "clear benefits" for preventing and detecting crime, but it relies on processing large amounts of sensitive personal data, so its use must be necessary and proportionate, the U.K. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said in a statement Wednesday.
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The office said it's working with police and members of the public to support compliance with and understanding of how data protection law applies.
Police use of facial recognition is evolving, including officer-initiated facial recognition, the ICO noted. "People must be able to trust that technology is being used responsibly," so the watchdog has renewed its focus on that issue this year. It plans to publish additional details in an AI and biometrics strategy later in the spring.