London’s Metropolitan Police drive mentioned on Friday that it had used facial recognition know-how to make greater than 500 arrests in 2024 for offenses starting from shoplifting to rape.
The drive makes use of reside facial recognition in particular areas of the UK capital, positioning a van outfitted with cameras in a pre-agreed location.
The cameras seize reside footage of passers-by and evaluate their faces in opposition to a pre-approved watchlist, producing an alert if a match is detected.
Civil liberties campaigners have criticized the usage of such know-how, and advocacy group Massive Brother Watch has launched authorized motion to cease its growth.
“The know-how works by making a ‘faceprint’ of everybody who passes in entrance of digital camera—processing biometric information as delicate as a fingerprint, usually with out our information or consent,” the group says on is web site.
“This dangerously authoritarian surveillance is a risk to our privateness and freedoms—it has no place on the streets of Britain,” it provides.
The Met says it’s a “forerunner” in utilizing the know-how, including that it helps “make London safer” by serving to detect “offenders who pose vital dangers to our communities”.
Of the 540 arrests, extra then 50 have been for critical offenses involving violence in opposition to ladies and ladies, together with offenses equivalent to strangulation, stalking, home abuse and rape.
Greater than 400 of these arrested have already been charged or cautioned.
“This know-how helps us shield our communities from hurt,” mentioned Lindsey Chiswick, the Met’s Director of Efficiency.
“It’s a highly effective software that helps officers to determine and concentrate on individuals who current the best threat which will in any other case have gone undetected,” she added.
Responding to privateness fears, police mentioned that the biometric information of any passer-by not on a watchlist is “instantly and completely deleted”.
© 2024 AFP
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London police make 500 arrests utilizing facial recognition tech (2024, December 6)
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