Charities attack PM's plan to expand facial recognition

Charities and human rights organisations have called on Sir Keir Starmer to reverse a planned expansion of the use of facial recognition technology following far-right riots across England and Northern Ireland.

- HOLLY BANCROFT

Amnesty International, Privacy International and Big Brother Watch are among the 27 campaign groups that have signed a letter to the prime minister to voice their “serious concerns” over facial recognition surveillance.

In a speech following the Southport riot on 1 August, Sir Keir spoke of a national team across police forces that would tackle violent disorder with beefed-up resources. These included shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology and use of criminal behaviour orders to restrict people’s movements.