The Latest Breaking News from Big Brother Watch

Police unlawfully storing images of innocent people for facial recognition

Privacy fears raised as report warns photographs of arrested people who are then released are being retained

The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2024

Starmer’s live facial recognition plan would usher in national ID, campaigners say

PM accused of ignoring civil rights and aping autocracies as he proposes new powers after far-right unrest

The Guardian - UK · Aug 2, 2024

DWP algorithm wrongly flags 200,000 people for possible fraud and error

Exclusive: Two-thirds of housing benefit claims marked as high risk in last three years were legitimate, figures show

The Guardian - UK · Jun 23, 2024

Ex-commissioner for facial recognition tech joins Facewatch firm he approved

Critics say Fraser Samson hiring is ‘outrageous conflict of interest’ as monitoring technology is rolled out in UK high streets

The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2023

Police urged to double use of facial recognition software

Policing minister Chris Philp suggests target of more than 200,000 searches over next six months in England and Wales

The Guardian - UK · Oct 28, 2023

Major UK retailers urged to quit ‘authoritarian’ police facial recognition strategy

Human rights campaigners say the Pegasus initiative wrongly criminalises people of colour, women and LGBTQ+ people

The Guardian - UK · Oct 28, 2023

OPINION - Facial recognition vans: the case for and against

A minister and technology advocate go head-to-head over facial recognition technology

Evening Standard · Oct 27, 2023

MPs and peers call for ‘immediate stop’ to live facial recognition surveillance

UK police forces and private firms urged to drop technology due to impact on human rights

The Guardian - UK · Oct 6, 2023

MPs join campaign group’s call for facial recognition ban

Statement calling for ‘immediate stop’ to surveillance backed by politicians from both houses.

The Independent UK · Oct 6, 2023

UK warned over lack of transparency on use of AI to vet welfare claims

Exclusive: Information commissioner tells government it risks contempt of court over response to freedom of information requests

The Guardian - UK · Sep 3, 2023