Hurdles must be faced before public will trust facial recognition

Clearer legislation and stronger personal data protections are a must before British citizens could be comfortable with the rollout of facial recognition technology, according to new research.

The UK has been moving increasingly towards a mass presence of facial recognition technology, with it already being used in train stations, supermarkets, on the street and as a biometric tool.

Despite law enforcement and large enterprises moving forward with the technology, there remains significant opposition from the public.

In a new survey of UK adults from Face Int UK, it was found that a clear majority (69%) believe the public should have a say in how this technology is deployed, with 57% concerned about how images of their face are stored.

Regarding specific requests, the most common answer was clear laws governing the technology’s use, followed by proof that it is accurate and fair and stronger protection of images and data.

Accountability has also been raised, with more than quarter saying tough penalties for misuse would improve trust, as well as greater transparency around how the technology is used.

“The public’s expectations for facial recognition technology are entirely reasonable. Our research shows that people want greater evidence and control to ensure the technology is fair, effective and that their data is properly protected, with real consequences if those standards are not met,” said Tony Kounnis, chief executive of Face Int UK & Europe.

“That should be a wake-up call for the industry, because it shows that trust is so closely linked to standards.

“To get the public to buy in to FRT, organisations both developing and deploying it need to show that the technology is governed properly, performs fairly and is backed by clear rules. The pathway to greater trust is there – now it is up to the providers, regulators and users to answer the call.”