Facial Recognition Flop: London’s Pricey Tech Gamble Misses the Mark
Privacy activists argue the return on investment for London’s live facial recognition (LFR) tech is laughably low, with just 0.15% of arrests since 2020 attributed to it. Meanwhile, the Met insists it’s a “powerful tool” for justice, but critics say it’s more a costly punchline in the saga of taxpayer spending.
Hot Take:
***London’s Met Police have embraced live facial recognition (LFR) technology like a kid with a new toy, but privacy activists are crying foul, pointing out that it’s about as effective as using a magnifying glass to find a needle in a haystack. Despite the Met’s claims of increased efficiency, the numbers suggest LFR might be more of a flashy gadget than a crime-fighting superpower.***
Key Points:
– London’s Met Police have used LFR to make 1,035 arrests, a measly 0.15% of total arrests since 2020.
– Big Brother Watch (BBW) criticizes LFR as an ineffective use of taxpayer money with minimal returns.
– LFR’s spotlight moment was catching a registered sex offender, but such cases are rare.
– The UK government continues to invest heavily in LFR technology despite privacy concerns.
– There are currently no laws governing LFR use in the UK, leaving it dangerously unregulated.