A quiet corner in Cardiff's city centre is where the consequences of a high-stakes experiment are being played out. The South Wales Police's facial recognition trial, which began in 2016, has resulted in over 170 arrests and convictions since its inception. But as the technology continues to capture images of individuals who match a database of known suspects, questions about its use are growing louder.
The trial involves cameras installed at various locations across Cardiff, capturing images of individuals who match a database of known suspects. Between April 2017 and March 2022, the technology led to 172 arrests and convictions for crimes including theft, assault, and robbery, according to figures released by South Wales Police.
While some have hailed the technology's effectiveness in reducing crime, others are sounding the alarm about its potential impact on civil liberties. 'We are not convinced that this is a proportionate use of surveillance technology,' said Silkie Carlo, director of privacy charity Big Brother Watch. 'There needs to be greater transparency and oversight around how this technology is used.'
The UK's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), has been monitoring the trial closely and has expressed concerns about the lack of public consultation and consent surrounding the use of live facial recognition technology.