The use of live facial recognition by Britain’s biggest police force is ‘unlawful’ and not compatible with human rights laws, the equalities watchdog has said.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has claimed Scotland Yard’s rules and safeguards fall short of standards and could have a ‘chilling effect’ on individuals’ rights when deployed at protests.
Live facial recognition (LFR) is set to be deployed by the force at Notting Hill Carnival over the August bank holiday weekend.
More than one million people are expected to converge on the streets of west London for the annual celebration.
And Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has already sought to reassure campaign groups that the technology will be used without bias.
