UK Biometrics Commissioner Report Highlights Urgent Need for IT Upgrades and Regulatory Clarity

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2023-24 has been formally presented to the United Kingdom Parliament, highlighting significant developments, ongoing challenges, and future considerations in the oversight of biometrics and surveillance technologies in the UK. Authored by Commissioner Tony Eastaugh CBE, the report covers the period from April 2023 to March 2024, providing insights into the retention and use of biometric materials and the oversight of surveillance camera technologies.

The Commissioner emphasized the importance of biometrics in national security, reporting 266 National Security Determinations (NSDs) during the period, with 227 approved. He expressed concerns about the “significant issues with the IT used to record and keep under review NSDs,” which have persisted over years, stressing the need for urgent upgrades to ensure “accurate recording of legally binding decisions.” The report also noted progress in the quality of applications for NSDs, with a reduction in errors and administrative challenges.

Regarding surveillance technology, the report reflected on the contentious deployment of live facial recognition (LFR) in public spaces. Eastaugh called for greater government engagement with stakeholders and civil liberties groups, noting that “potential regulatory and policy deficiencies” remain in addressing new biometric technologies like facial recognition. This concern is echoed by the UK Parliament’s recent debate on the police use of LFR, highlighting the lack of dedicated legislation governing such technologies.

He further highlighted the increasing integration of artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics into public safety tools, stating, “We must all work harder and smarter to keep alive to the risks and threats that these advances present to governance and accountability structures.”

The report also detailed the Commissioner’s efforts to prepare for the anticipated closure of the Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (OBSCC). The closure was linked to legislative changes proposed under the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which ultimately stalled following the dissolution of Parliament ahead of a general election. Despite this uncertainty, Eastaugh ensured a smooth transition plan for functions like biometrics casework to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO).

Eastaugh also raised alarms over the legal and ethical challenges posed by the rapid growth of biometric technologies, including emerging methods like gait and voice pattern recognition. He stated that “growth in the range of biometrics… must become a focus for policy, and possibly legislative, solutions,” urging the government to provide clarity on regulation and accountability for these technologies. Furthermore, the report highlighted the continued reliance on tools like the Surveillance Camera Code, even as the future of such oversight mechanisms remains uncertain.

A notable highlight of the report was the Commissioner’s acknowledgment of the broader societal and civil liberties implications of biometric and surveillance technologies. He emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “With greater transparency comes greater trust and public confidence,” particularly when deploying new technologies in public spaces. This aligns with his broader call for stakeholder engagement to build a “strong legal, ethical, and societal framework” around surveillance tools.

Source: Counter Terror Business, UKAuthority

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December 3, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith