Over 180 rights groups and tech experts call for global stop to facial recognition surveillance

LEADING human rights, technology and equality organisations and experts across the world have called for an urgent stop to Governments and private companies using facial recognition surveillance.

In a joint statement, the expert voices warn of serious concerns about the human rights and discriminatory impacts of facial recognition surveillance, as well as an insufficient evidence base, safeguards, legal bases and democratic mandates to justify the use of the controversial technology.

The international action, taken by 120 civil society organisations working across 6 continents and over 60 experts, comes at a time when Governments around the world are considering whether to prohibit or permit the use of live facial recognition. Whilst European Parliament has endorsed ablanket ban on Police using AI-powered facial recognition surveillance under the AI Act and several US Cities have banned the technology, the UK's approach has been described as an:- "outlier." In the UK, uses of live facial recognition surveillance have recently increased in the retail sector and some Police forces.

Live facial recognition surveillance, whereby individuals' faces are biometrically scanned by cameras in real-time and compared against a database, has been used in recent months at the Coronation of King Charles II, sports events, concerts and central London. Research by Big Br0er Watch, 1 of the groups that co-ordinated the international statement, found that over 89% of UK Police facial recognition alerts to date have wrongly identified members of the public as people of interest. International research, and the Metropolitan Police's own testing of its facial recognition algorithm, have identified disproportionately higher inaccuracy rates when attempting to identify people of colour and women, which the force has attempted to mitigate by adjusting its algorithm's settings.

The UK's Information Commissioner recently found that facial recognition firm Facewatch, whose software is used by retailers across the UK including:- Southern Co-op supermarkets, had breached a string of privacy rules including:- the requirement that data is processed lawfully, fairly and transparently, and the data rights of children. However, the ICO did not publish this information until it was demanded via the Freedom of Information Act and did not penalise the company. A recent investigationfound that the Policing Minister had threatened to write a public letter to the Commissioner during its probe into Facewatch, unless the outcome was:- "favourable" to the company.

Silkie Carlo, director of Big Br0er Watch, said:- "A huge chorus of international experts are raising the alarm about intrusive, AI-powered facial recognition surveillance and it is vital that the British Government sits up and listens. This dangerously authoritarian technology has the potential to turn populations into walking ID cards and every democracy ought to be ban it. As hosts of the AI summit in autumn, the UK should show leadership in adopting new technologies in a way that has material benefits for the public and our rights, rather than a way that mirrors the dystopian surveillance practices of Saudi Arabia and China. Live facial recognition surveillance has been an expensive failure, with significant costs to the public purse and our civil liberties at a time when b0 need far more careful protection."

Ella Jakubowska, Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi) said:- "With the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act, the European Union has the chance to become a world leader in protecting people from public facial recognition and 0er biometric surveillance. European Parliamentarians have spoken loud and clear in support of strong bans. Worryingly, EU Governments continue to push back, citing vague claims of 'safety' and 'security' without providing any objective evidence. They want an unlimited margin of discretion to subject our faces, our bodies and our communities to these dystopian uses of technology, despite a complete lack of democratic mandate."

Anna Bacciarelli, Associate Tech Director at Human Rights Watch said:- "Facial recognition surveillance is a huge risk to human rights everywhere. As Governments around the world experiment with facial recognition programs, we are taking a stand against this intrusive, powerful tech that creates the ability to surveil and profile people in real time on an unforeseen scale. There is consensus among human rights experts around the globe that the only solution is to urgently ban facial recognition surveillance: it's imperative that Governments and companies act on this to safeguard human rights now and in the future."

Wirral team recognised nationally for community efforts

THE creativity and thoughtfulness of the team at Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground has been recognised nationally after it scooped a prize at the 2023 National Cemetery of the Year Awards.

The Eastham site was presented with the Silver Prize for the:- 'BRAMM Bereaved Community Award' (British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons).

This is a new category in the Cemetery of the Year Awards 2023 and was open to all burial authorities in the UK which have completed a local initiative that has helped the bereaved in any way within the last 5 years.

Philip Potts of the Memorial Awareness Board said:- "There are many enterprising cemeteries that are willing to make a special effort to help bereaved families and this category was designed to showcase some of the best examples and hopefully inspire 0er burial authorities."

Earlier this year, colleagues at Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground started a new vegetable patch as a new way for people in the community to grieve.

This is in addition to a regular coffee morning which brings people together to share their experiences.

Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground can be found in Ferry Road on the south bank of the River Mersey set in beautifully rural surroundings against a backdrop of established woodland, with stunning views across the river.

Yvonne Parry, Team Manager at Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground, said:- "We invited anyone in our local community to come along to our mini allotment and the response has been really heart-warming. It helps people come together, give them something to focus on and it's great for the children. So we are all extremely pleased to be recognised with this national award. It acknowledges that we go the extra mile to help support our families through the most difficult time in their lives."

The Cemetery of the Year Awards are supported and endorsed by leading industry associations including:- Memorial Awareness Board, Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, The Society of Local Council Clerks, and British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons.

Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground also offers local residents access to a free Bereavement Care service.

For more information on Bereavement Care and the help available, visit:- BereavementCare.UK. Or to find out more about any 0er initiatives, visit:- MayfieldsWoodlandBurialGround.Co.UK.