Getty imagesCivil Liberty and anti -racism groups have called the Metropolitan Police to leave a plan to use Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology at this year’s Noting Hill Carnival.
In a letter by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowle, 11 organizations described LFRs as “a large-scale monitoring tool that considers all carnival-goals as potential suspects and there is no place in one of the largest cultural ceremonies in London”.
He said that the decision to resume technology at Carnival was “deeply disappointing” and argued that it could be “less accurate for women and color people”.
The Met Police says that the LFR is accurate and balanced in ethnicity and gender, and insists that it will help keep people safe.
Group – Liberty, Big Brother Watch and The Run Meed Trust – a continuous highlight Judicial review brought by Shaun ThompsonA Black London who states that he was incorrectly identified and detained by the system.
The letter stated: “There is no clear legal basis for the use of LFR of your force. No law refers to facial recognition technology and Parliament has never considered or investigated its use.
“Noting Hill Carnival is an event that celebrates the British African Caribbean community, yet [Metropolitan Police] Using a technique with a well -written history of incorrect results and racial bias. ,
Getty imagesThe letter also increased more than 2023 concerns National physical laboratory studyWhich found that the Neoface system used by Mate was less accurate for women and color people, set on the basis of algorithm.
The authors of the study found that the system could show prejudice in the lower threshold, although in high settings Mate says it uses, performance was found to be justified in ethnicity and gender.
This is a level of threshold -confidence that uses to decide a match – fewer people flag more people but risk more mistakes and bias, while high people are strict and more balanced.
The campaigners said that there was no legal obligation for the force to avoid the lower threshold, and argued that policing resources would be better spent on security measures in the carnival.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, who is leading this year’s policing operation at Carnival, said that LFR had led more than 1,000 arrests since the onset of 2024 and independent testing revealed that the system was “accurate and balanced in relation to ethnicity and gender” on the threshold used by Mate.
Getty imagesNoting Hill Carnival occurs at the end of next week and attracted the first two million people.
It comes under an increased investigation After killing two people In last year’s program.
Mr. Ward said that the force had received a letter and he would answer in the appointed time.
“The growing popularity and size of the carnival creates unique challenges. Around 7,000 officers and employees will be deployed each day,” he said.
“Their priority is to protect people, including preventing severe violence, such as knife crime and violence against women and girls.
“It is true that we best use the technique available to support the authorities to support the authorities more effectively.”
Mr. Ward said that LFR cameras will be used from carnival and not within the boundaries of the event.
He said that they would “help the authorities identify and interrupt those who pose public safety risk before going to crowded streets”.
The BBC News has approached the organizers of the Carnival for comment.
