EFF and Civil Society Groups Urge Nottinghamshire Police to Stop Live Facial Recognition Deployment

• EFF and a coalition of seven other civil society organizations have issued a formal request to the Nottinghamshire Police Force to halt the implementation of live facial recognition (LFR) technology.
• The coalition argues that LFR is an intrusive mass surveillance tool rather than a standard policing method, and they cite significant concerns regarding privacy, proportionality, and public impact.

Core Objections to LFR

• Beyond Routine Tools: Unlike standard police equipment, LFR involves the creation of biometric face prints for every individual in a public space, effectively treating all citizens as suspects.
• Privacy and Chilling Effects: Critics argue that the normalisation of surveillance discourages individuals from engaging in sensitive activities, such as seeking medical advice, participating in journalism, or exercising rights like protest and religious expression.
• Disproportionate Targeting: There is significant concern regarding the use of LFR to address low-level "anti-social" behavior, particularly with a watchlist that reportedly includes children as young as 11.
• Youth Impact: The use of LFR on minors risks damaging their relationship with law enforcement and potentially exacerbating behavioral issues by creating an adversarial environment from a young age.

Public Sentiment and Ethics

• Lack of Support: Polling data indicates that 48% of the public opposes LFR scanning in high streets without a specific threat, and there is broad opposition to its use in schools.
• Youth Perception: Research from the London Policing Ethics Panel suggests that young people (ages 16-24) view LFR as highly unacceptable and are more likely to avoid events where the technology is present.