In the Face of Ethics: Police Use of Live Facial Recognition Technology
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Dickson Poon School of Law Departments
Abstract
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) is based on mapping the faces
of individuals in crowds by using real-time video imagery
and extracting their biometric facial features to produce a
unique digital signature of identified faces. This data is
then matched against facial biometric data from images
included in a 'watchlist'. Law enforcement agencies use of
LFR raises a wide range of ethical and legal questions
relating to potential interference with democratic civil
liberties, considering the delicate balance between the
protection of private rights and the public interest. Deep
concerns are raised of unlawful interference with the Right
to Privacy, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Assembly
and Association, Prohibition of Discrimination and Data
Protection Rights.
The objective of the proposed research is answering the
questions: what are the moral standards that apply to the
law enforcement agencies deployment of LFR? Are current
legal principles guarded by Human Rights Law and its
subsequent legislation suitable and sufficient to confront all
ethical considerations arising from the deployment of LFR?
What are the necessary regulatory safeguards to be
implemented in order to harness the benefits of current and
potential use of LFR by law enforcement agencies, while
protecting human rights and civil liberties?
of individuals in crowds by using real-time video imagery
and extracting their biometric facial features to produce a
unique digital signature of identified faces. This data is
then matched against facial biometric data from images
included in a 'watchlist'. Law enforcement agencies use of
LFR raises a wide range of ethical and legal questions
relating to potential interference with democratic civil
liberties, considering the delicate balance between the
protection of private rights and the public interest. Deep
concerns are raised of unlawful interference with the Right
to Privacy, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Assembly
and Association, Prohibition of Discrimination and Data
Protection Rights.
The objective of the proposed research is answering the
questions: what are the moral standards that apply to the
law enforcement agencies deployment of LFR? Are current
legal principles guarded by Human Rights Law and its
subsequent legislation suitable and sufficient to confront all
ethical considerations arising from the deployment of LFR?
What are the necessary regulatory safeguards to be
implemented in order to harness the benefits of current and
potential use of LFR by law enforcement agencies, while
protecting human rights and civil liberties?
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000703/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 2434818 | Studentship | ES/P000703/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2023 | Orit Kopel |
| Description | I achieved a comprehensive ethical review of the issues concerning the police use of Live Facial Recognition technology, in an interdisciplinary research that bridged the current gap in ethical evaluation. |
| Exploitation Route | I hope my research will be considered in following policy making concerning the police use of Live Facial Recognition and in the adoption of new AI-based technological tools. |
| Sectors | Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | The finding can be used by the government and the police in forming a governing policy for the police use of Live Facial Recognition and in the adoption of new AI-based technologies in the future. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |