Home Office secretly backs facial recognition technology to curb shoplifting

The increasing use of facial recognition technology by UK police and in shops is defended by the Home Office and companies such as Sports Direct and Facewatch. Illustration: Observer Design

Home Office officials have drawn up secret plans to lobby the independent privacy regulator in an attempt to push the rollout of controversial facial recognition technology into high street shops and supermarkets, internal government minutes seen by the Observer reveal.

The covert strategy was agreed during a closed-door meeting on 8 March between policing minister Chris Philp, senior Home Office officials and the private firm Facewatch, whose facial recognition cameras have provoked fierce opposition after being installed in shops.