In the case of R (on the application of Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police ([2020] EWCA Civ 1058) the Court of Appeal held that the live automated facial recognition technology (“AFR”) used by the South Wales Police Force (“SWP”) was unlawful as it was not “in accordance with law” for the purposes of Article 8 of the ECHR. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Category: Surveillance (Page 2 of 4)
New technologies present opportunities for the private security sector to innovate and gain an edge over slower and non-adapter competitors. Law enforcement agencies around the world have started using facial recognition techniques over the last few years. Continue reading
The coronavirus pandemic highlights the need for a surveillance debate beyond ‘privacy’ – David Lyon
The coronavirus pandemic has stirred up a surveillance storm. Researchers rush to develop new forms of public health monitoring and tracking, but releasing personal data to private companies and governments carries risks to our individual and collective rights. COVID-19 opens the lid on a much-needed debate. Continue reading
It seems likely that a decision will be taken soon in the UK to use a smartphone (Bluetooth) based contact tracing app to help stem the COVID-19 pandemic, with a trial reported on 22 April. Used with other measures including scaled-up testing for infection, physical distancing and self-isolation, this is expected to help save lives. Continue reading
South Korea has been widely praised for its management of the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. The focus has largely been on South Korea’s enormous virus testing programme. Continue reading
Just over a year ago, as a practitioner, I was involved in a number of conversations with clients and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) relating to the use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). These conversations tended to be on behalf of clients operating in the leisure and health and fitness industries and related to the appropriateness of the implementation of the technology to facilitate access to their facilities. Continue reading
In November I will be Chairing a panel on Data Rights and the Rule of Law at the Information Law and Policy Centre’s Annual Conference at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. This got me thinking about data protection, privacy and the Rule of Law more generally. Continue reading
The South African High Court judgment in the case of amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services [2019] ZAGPPHC 384 is a victory for privacy rights. Continue reading
Facial recognition technology is spreading fast. Already widespread in China, software that identifies people by comparing images of their faces against a database of records is now being adopted across much of the rest of the world. It’s common among police forces but has also been used at airports, railway stations and shopping centres. Continue reading
The Great Hack has just dropped on Netflix (IMDB | Rotten Tomatoes | wikipedia | poster left). It is a documentary that explores “how a data company named Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 US presidential election”. Continue reading
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