The Metropolitan Police is considering whether to pause its use of facial recognition cameras because so many Londoners are wearing face masks.
Use of the technology, which was deployed across London from January in a bid to spot serious criminals, is regarded as controversial by civil liberties campaigners.
London Assembly members Caroline Pidgeon and Sian Berry wrote to Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to ask her to drop the technology until a series of concerns — including the difficulty of using it during the pandemic — were addressed.
MPs have criticised its use ahead of there being legal safeguards in force. Critics also wanted clarity on how the Met drew up “watch lists” of targets for detection.
There was concern it could reduce confidence in the police. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman told the Standard last night: “We are looking at any potential issues to establish how it may impact on future LFR [Live facial recognition] deployments.”
Ms Pidgeon, a Lib-Dem assembly member, said: “We now face the situation that for many months ahead the wearing of masks, scarves and face coverings will be common place in public places in London.
Even the staunchest advocates of facial recognition technology must surely accept that this is not the right time to be rolling out the use of this technology.”
The Met launched the technology in January. Met Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said the cameras were “vital in assisting us in bearing down on violence”. He said cameras would not be used “to search speculatively or indiscriminately”.
