Fourteen rights and racial justice organizations have issued a joint statement calling on Police Scotland to abandon its planned implementation of live facial recognition (LFR) technology for public surveillance. The appeal followed confirmation at an August meeting of the Scottish Police Authority that the force intends to proceed with preparations for LFR despite significant concerns.
Public Opinion and Civil Society Response
An open consultation conducted by Police Scotland found that 49 percent of respondents were comfortable with the proposed technology, while 48 percent expressed discomfort. Rights groups including Big Brother Watch, Amnesty International Scotland, Liberty, and the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights argue that deployment risks entrenching racial injustice, expanding surveillance, and undermining democratic freedoms. They point to longstanding evidence that facial recognition systems are less accurate in identifying women and people of color.
Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors acknowledged that further work is needed before deployment, citing requirements for public engagement, a business case, detailed policies, operating procedures, and financial planning. At the same meeting, Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith emphasized that Police Scotland is reviewing technical performance, defining reporting standards, and developing independent oversight frameworks to address bias and governance concerns.
Legal and Operational Context
The Scottish debate comes against the backdrop of previous UK controversies. In 2019, the Court of Appeal ruled that South Wales Police’s use of live facial recognition breached human rights, equalities, and data protection laws. More recently, the Metropolitan Police has faced legal action after its system incorrectly identified a community volunteer, raising questions about safeguards and accountability. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has separately warned that the Met’s planned use of LFR risks violating privacy and equalities law.
Scotland’s Biometrics Commissioner, Dr. Brian Plastow, has supported Police Scotland’s decision to move forward cautiously under a “rights-based pathway.” He noted that independent research shows LFR has been effective in apprehending serious offenders, including sex offenders, and argued that the technology can improve public safety if deployed with strong governance and oversight. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson has gone further, stating he would “introduce LFR tomorrow” if given the opportunity, reflecting pressure within the force to accelerate adoption.
Next Steps and Oversight
Police Scotland has confirmed that it will continue developing its LFR program, with further updates expected to the Scottish Police Authority in September 2025. However, concerns remain about the accuracy of existing custody photos, many of which are considered too poor in quality to support reliable facial recognition. Rights advocates insist that without significant reforms, any rollout will put minority communities at disproportionate risk.
The ongoing debate underscores wider UK concerns over police facial recognition use. Recent findings show that UK police have accessed 150 million civilian images for facial recognition purposes, intensifying privacy worries and reinforcing calls for stricter oversight.
Sources: Scottish Legal, Big Brother Watch, The Guardian
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
