69% of Britons believe the public should have a say in how facial recognition technology (FRT) is used in the UK according to new research by Face Int, as the Conservative Party has called for the greater use of facial recognition technology to investigate crimes.
According to the BBC, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has said he would like to make it a requirement for officers to run images of suspects through facial recognition software, where they have been captured on CCTV, mobile phones or camera doorbells.
Meanwhile, he has called for officers to follow up when geo-tagged items - including phones, laptops, tablets, bikes and cars - are pinging their location at a suspect's address, as well as tackling stolen goods being “sold in plain sight”.
The Home Office said it is already “freeing up forces” through investing in technology, including a national facial recognition system for police, so they can spend more time on the frontline.
According to a new survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by “privacy-first” facial verification and biometric technology company ‘Face Int’, 61% of respondents said they worry that errors could get people into trouble for things they have not done.
Meanwhile, 57% shared concerns about how images of their face are stored.
Face Int said: “There is also a broader unease about the implications of the technology. Over half (57%) of respondents believe facial recognition represents a step towards a surveillance society, while 39% think there is a risk of racial bias within FRT systems. More than half (54%) also said facial recognition gives them an eerie sense that “Big Brother” is watching them constantly.”
Despite the concerns, the survey found attitudes were not entirely negative, with just over half (54%) of respondents agreeing that people should not worry about facial recognition if they have done nothing wrong.
Tony Kounnis, CEO of Face Int UK & Europe, said: “Public concern around facial recognition is not abstract or ideological. People are worried about very specific issues – whether the technology can make mistakes, how their data is stored and used, and what it means in the context of wider surveillance.
“That matters for organisations using the technology. It means the conversation cannot stop at whether the technology works. There needs to be clear justification for its use, transparency around how it is deployed, and strong safeguards in place to protect individuals and their data.
“Just as importantly, there is a clear expectation from the public to have a say in how facial recognition is used. Organisations need to recognise that and engage with it, rather than treat it as a purely technical or operational decision.”
The Conservative Party and Shadow Home Secretary have been approached for comment.
