Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Getting a lot of media attention today
https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...s-police-chief
One of the most senior policing figures in Wales has warned that the use of facial recognition technology at the country’s biggest football derby this weekend could create miscarriages of justice.
Arfon Jones, a veteran Welsh police officer and the North Wales police and crime commissioner, has expressed grave concern about the deployment of the surveillance technology at Sunday’s clash between Cardiff City and Swansea City.
Civil liberties and fan groups have also criticised South Wales police’s decision to train cameras on supporters and employ facial recognition on them at the Cardiff City stadium.
Jones, who served as a police officer in North Wales for 30 years, described the plans as “disproportionate”.
He also accused the South Wales force of being engaged in a “fishing expedition where, once again, football fans are being unfairly targeted in a way that supporters of other sports are not”.
He added: “It’s a step too far and creates the potential for miscarriages of justice.
“I’m sure there are people from North Wales who will be going down to the game and risk having pictures taken of them without their consent. I have a responsibility to represent them and to oppose fishing expeditions that invade their privacy.”
He said there was also a danger that the technology could be biased and discriminatory.
“When facial recognition technology was first used in the Champions League final at the Millennium Stadium there were several hundred, if not thousands, of false positives, so there have to be concerns about its accuracy.
“There have also been concerns about its effectiveness, especially so with members of the BAME community, and I don’t know if these have been satisfactorily addressed.
“I believe it is invasive, disproportionate and has the ability to reduce confidence in our policing.”
South Wales police’s assistant chief constable, Andy Valentine, defended the use of the technology, pointing out that it was only the third time it had been deployed in more than two-and-a-half years.
He said: “We are deploying automated facial recognition to prevent offences by individuals who are wanted for questioning for football-related offences or have been convicted of football-related criminality and are now subject to football banning orders that preclude them from attending.
“Football banning orders are issued by the court to those who have misbehaved at a previous football game and hence this provides us with a clear rationale in our strategy to prevent any crime and disorder.”
He said the data of all those captured by the technology on Sunday who were not on the “watch list” would be instantaneously deleted.
Valentine stressed that under a high court ruling in September 2019, the use of facial recognition technology was legally justified and proportionate.
But the Football Supporters’ Association Wales said the use of facial recognition treated fans like criminals.
Vince Alm, the association’s spokesman, said: “It’s unbelievable that police are targeting us with facial recognition surveillance again. Fans coming out for a local football match, including hundreds of families and children, will be treated like they’re in a police line-up and have their faces scanned without their consent.”
The civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch has called for an immediate ban on facial recognition surveillance in the UK.
Silkie Carlo, the organisation’s director, said: “Police repeatedly targeting football fans with this new and dangerous mass-surveillance tool treats them like suspects, erodes public freedoms and wastes public money. South Wales police are acting like Big Brother and seem tone-deaf to public concerns.
“We will keep fighting facial recognition surveillance until its use is ended. It’s one of the most extreme surveillance technologies in the world and has no place in Britain. Government should urgently issue a ban on police and private companies monitoring the public with this authoritarian surveillance technology.”
Two separate human rights challenges are currently under way against the deployment of facial recognition cameras.
One legal case is being taken by Big Brother Watch and the Green party member of the House of Lords, Jenny Jones. Their action is against the Metropolitan police, which has put the use of facial recognition tools on hold.
A second challenge is being brought by Dr Ed Bridges against South Wales police.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
From Vince Alm on Facebook
AFR Protest at this Sunday fixture against Swansea.
If we could meet at the Fred Keenor Statue at 11 30am wearing masks balaclavas etc We can then protest where pictures will be taken by the press of the banner and the protest.
We have accepted many restrictions imposed on supporters attending this game through gritted teeth, but this is a step to far and disproportionate to the alleged risk and behaviour over the last 10 years.
No consultation with football supporters it's an act of arrogance and ignorance by the most senior of police officers of South Wales who have probably never attended a football match.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/CardiffCityFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CardiffCityFC</a> take on <a href="https://twitter.com/SwansOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwansOfficial</a> at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday. <br><br>We will be deploying our facial recognition technology at key areas ahead of the match to assist in identifying those who have been issued with banning orders and may attempt to attend the game. <a href="https://t.co/df3DNlEBSP">pic.twitter.com/df3DNlEBSP</a></p>— South Wales Police (@swpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/swpolice/status/1215204882191351809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">�� Only those who have previously been convicted of offences at football matches are on the watch list and all have valid banning orders in place.<br><br>�� Our watch list, as always, is event-specific and is only being used to reduce the threat of or likelihood of disorder.</p>— South Wales Police (@swpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/swpolice/status/1215205426456862720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">�� The technology does not retain biometric data or images of people whose faces have been scanned.<br><br>�� Data and/or imagery is immediately and automatically deleted and is not available to the system operator or any other police officers.<br><br>More info: <a href="https://t.co/BrZyRCGde6">https://t.co/BrZyRCGde6</a><br><br>^cy</p>— South Wales Police (@swpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/swpolice/status/1215205738479525889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
How would that work with Croesy ?
He’s got 2 faces!
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
"pointing out that it was only the third time it had been deployed in more than two-and-a-half years."
So why bother using it now?
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Only people who have something to hide or worry about would object to this type of technology at the game. The request for fans to wear balaclavas is irresponsible as anyone who is banned could use it as cover to try to get in. Normal law abiding fans will feel safer as a result of this system being used.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dml1954
Only people who have something to hide or worry about would object to this type of technology at the game. The request for fans to wear balaclavas is irresponsible as anyone who is banned could use it as cover to try to get in. Normal law abiding fans will feel safer as a result of this system being used.
Oh oh. You’ve done it now. The CCMB boot boys are getting laced up as we speak!
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
BBC Wales news this evening were quick to throw a egg reference in saying it has been used many more times at big rugby internationals, suggesting that three times only at the football was insignificant.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
The technology does not retain biometric data or images of people whose faces have been scanned. Data and/or imagery is immediately and automatically deleted and is not available to the system operator or any other police officers.
Where does it go after it's been deleted that it can't be retrieved if person was looking to do so?
Quote:
South Wales police’s assistant chief constable, Andy Valentine, defended the use of the technology, pointing out that it was only the third time it had been deployed in more than two-and-a-half years.
How many times do you have to win "family club of the year" before you're not two out of three times this technology has been used in two-and-a-half years?
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dml1954
Only people who have something to hide or worry about would object to this type of technology at the game. The request for fans to wear balaclavas is irresponsible as anyone who is banned could use it as cover to try to get in. Normal law abiding fans will feel safer as a result of this system being used.
How many times does data/information have to be breached or misused before this argument is debunked?
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
surge
How many times does data/information have to be breached or misused before this argument is debunked?
Some people are incapable of learning
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Yeah, no threat to those with nothing to hide at all...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a8898946.html
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
William Treseder
Oh oh. You’ve done it now. The CCMB boot boys are getting laced up as we speak!
Well not quite.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tomm
In China it seems to be working quite well..
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dml1954
Only people who have something to hide or worry about would object to this type of technology at the game. The request for fans to wear balaclavas is irresponsible as anyone who is banned could use it as cover to try to get in. Normal law abiding fans will feel safer as a result of this system being used.
Some people might be fine with their every movement, facial expression and interaction being tracked and recorded by a number of different organisations and then potentially sold or stolen. Others aren't comfortable with that.
Your phone knows everywhere you've been today. You probably won't download that information and post it on here, even without us knowing your real identity, but it's not because you've committed crimes. It's because you want privacy and don't know who will read it.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
As someone that was in the family stand in 93 for that terrible night, and again on a bus that was smashed up by the Jacks, I'm all for technology being used to keep these scumbags away from families that want to enjoy a football match.
As for "it's an act of arrogance and ignorance", do me a favour. I'd much rather the police and authorities do their job than listen to untrained fan groups that could potentially vouch for hooligans.
Re: Facial recognition being implemented this weekend
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dml1954
Only people who have something to hide or worry about would object to this type of technology at the game. The request for fans to wear balaclavas is irresponsible as anyone who is banned could use it as cover to try to get in. Normal law abiding fans will feel safer as a result of this system being used.
Are you just on a massive wind-up? Because if so, well played sir.
