British Transport Police is extending its live facial recognition (LFR) trial to the London Underground, despite ongoing privacy and accuracy concerns, according to The Register. The deployment will initially focus on Victoria Underground station before rotating to other stations.
The LFR technology, utilizing the NEC NeoFace M40 algorithm, scans faces against a police watchlist, alerting officers to potential matches for review. This expansion follows a pilot at London Bridge railway station and similar deployments by the Metropolitan Police.
Critics, including civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, have labeled the technology "dystopian" and "intrusive," citing instances of innocent individuals, particularly from ethnic minorities, being misidentified. Concerns also extend to the routine use of such pervasive surveillance in a democracy and the storage of facial images.
A recent survey indicated public apprehension regarding errors and data handling. British Transport Police maintains that images of non-matches are deleted immediately and emphasizes its commitment to lawful, proportionate, and transparent use of the technology to protect the public and combat crime.
Source: The Register
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
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