Facial Recognition Fiasco: London’s Tech Triumph or Privacy Pitfall?
The Metropolitan Police’s live facial recognition tech led to 962 arrests but flagged 10 innocent faces, with 80% being Black individuals. While the tech aims to boost safety, critics argue it’s a privacy nightmare. Despite this, 85% of Londoners support its use, proving Brits love a good plot twist, even in policing!
Hot Take:
***London’s Met Police is playing a high-stakes game of “guess who” with live facial recognition. With a success rate that even a Vegas gambler might envy, they’ve managed to nab 962 folks who were apparently up to no good. But hold onto your monocles, because the 0.48 percent false positive rate means they’re also accidentally pointing the finger at a few innocent bystanders. The tech’s as controversial as a pineapple pizza at an Italian dinner party, yet it seems the Met is determined to lean into it like a cat into a sunbeam.***
Key Points:
– London’s Met Police used live facial recognition (LFR) 203 times last year, resulting in 962 arrests.
– The tech triggered 2,077 alerts with 10 false positives (0.48% of alerts).
– Arrests included wanted individuals and those under multiple agency management.
– LFR has been criticized for racial bias, with 80% of false positives involving Black people.
– Despite controversy, 85% of Londoners reportedly support LFR use, though opposition exists among certain demographics.