By: Wired
January 24, 2020
The Met Police has announced that it will start using controversial live facial recognition systems as part of its regular policing in London.
The service has been trialling face matching technology on the streets of the capital since 2016 but will now significantly increase its use. “The use of live facial recognition technology will be intelligence-led and deployed to specific locations in London,” the police force said in a statement.
The Met says that the roll-out of live facial recognition will start in places where it believes the technology can help “locate serious offenders” and help to tackle crime. It’s believed the first use of the technology will begin within the next month. It has not yet been announced where the technology will be used. At this stage it is also unclear whether the cameras used for facial recognition will be permanently deployed to one location or moved frequently around the city.