The UK Government consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies ran until February 2026. You can read more about the proposals here: Legal framework for using facial recognition in law enforcement – GOV.UK. A response to the consultation is due to be published within 12 weeks of the closing date.

We are concerned that the use of discriminatory and racially biased technologies would cause a detrimental impact on visible ethnic minority people and communities who already experience disproportionate impacts of racism in various aspects of life. Different parts of the UK where live facial recognition (LFR) technology was deployed saw cases of inaccurate results, such as Shaun Thompson, an anti-knife crime activist, who was misidentified and wrongly stopped by police in London. As of writing, Mr Thompson is being supported by Big Brother Watch in a legal challenge against the Met Police.

CEMVO is a charity that operates in Scotland, and it is important to note that while we are responding to the UK Government’s consultation regarding the new legal framework for biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, we remain firm in advocating for race equality and human rights in Scotland and across the UK. We welcome that the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing stated in 2020 that “there would be no justifiable basis for Police Scotland to invest in this technology” and that the “live facial recognition software which is currently available to the police service is known to discriminate against females, and those from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities”. 

Read our full response for more information about the proposals and our concerns.