Police Give Hooligans FRT Notice Ahead of Football Match

In preparation for the high-stakes North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, police have deployed live facial recognition technology in the area surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in northeast London.

The technology will scan crowds, cross-referencing faces against a watchlist of individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, criminal charges, or court-imposed bans from attending the match. Police emphasize the targeted nature of the watchlist, stating that any captured images not matching watchlist individuals are automatically deleted without being stored.

This deployment aims to proactively identify and potentially apprehend individuals who might pose a security risk during the football match. The move highlights the potential of facial recognition in proactively maintaining safety and preventing potential disruptions at mass gatherings.

The use of facial recognition at sports stadiums is not a new idea. For several years now, teams throughout the world have opted to go with facial biometrics for a range of reasons, including expediency, to improve security, and to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

However, the use of facial recognition technology in public settings remains a topic of debate. Privacy advocates often express concerns about the potential for overreach and infringement on individual liberties when deploying such surveillance systems.

The specific application of facial recognition at the upcoming football derby will likely spark discussion regarding the balance between deploying biometric technology for enhanced security and the potential implications for privacy within the context of large-scale public events.

Source: This is Local London

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April 29, 2024 — by Ali Nassar-Smith