Latest London Police Facial Recognition Suffers Serious Issues
On February 20, IPVM visited another live face rec deployment by London police, but this time the system was thwarted by technical problems and poor weather conditions, even getting called off early. New cameras we also used, although they were of a model that wasn't well suited to the task.
With no arrests and poor implementation, privacy rights group Big Brother Watch described this deployment as a "complete police failure". In this post, we examine the system's issues, new specs, and more, including:
- Background
- Video Walkthrough
- New Cameras With Lower Resolution Used
- Weather-related Challenges: Umbrellas, Hoodies
- Deployment Called Off Due to Software Glitch
- Passerby Reaction
- Activists Call Out "Complete Police Failure"
- Final Analysis: Long List of Problems
- Met Police Response
- Conclusion
**********
** **** *******, ******'* ************ ****** (the ***)************* *****, *** *** ***** ****, begin *********** *** ** **** **** recognition (***) ** ***** ** ***** down ** "******* *****".
**** ********** ******* * ******** ** deployment** **** ******. ******* ********** **** good, ******** ** ***** **** ***** have ****** ********. ******* ********* ***** was ****** ******** *** ********* **** or ******** ***** ***** ** **** walked *******.
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** ******** **, *** *** ******* its *** *** ** ********* ****** ************** *** ***** ** ******. **** is *** ** *** **** *********/******************** ** *** ** ****** *** a ***** ****** ****.
**** *** * ***** *********** ** the **** ** ****:
New *******
*** *********** ********** ********** *** **** an ******** ********* ****** ***** *** used. ** *** ******** ********** ** East ******, **** ******** ******* *** ******,*** **** ****, ********* *****-********* **** ****:
**** ** ** *** ****** ******** to *** *** ** ** ** lower ********** - ***** ** *** - *** *** ******* ********* ** the ***** ** *** **** **** with ****-***** **, ***** ***** *** be ****** ******* * *******-****** ****** at ********** ***** *****.
*** *****-** ***** ** ******** *** oil ****, *********, *** ***** ******* environments *** ** *** ***-**** *******. It ** ********* *** ****** *********, **** ** *** ****. *******, Met ****** ******** ** *** ***** told **** **** **** *** ** "upgrade" ******** ** *** ******* ******** last ****.
Rain * *******
** *** ******* ****** *** ********** and **** *********** *** ********* ** hoodies, ********* *** ****** *********** ***** in **** ***** ********'* ***** **** entirely ******** ** *** *******, ** shown *****:
****** **** **** **** ** *** long ***, ** *** ****** *** to ** *********** ******* *** **** people **** ***** *********, ****’* ******** suspend **. **** ** * **** problem *** ******, ***** **** ** common.
Deployment ****** *** *** ** ******** *****
*** ********* ******* ** **** *** ran *** ***** *.* ***** *** was ****** *** ***********. (*** ***** deployment ****** * *****). ****** *************** told **** **** **** ************ ********* issues***** ******** ****** *** ************ ******* the ******** *** *** ******* **** carried (*********** ***********) ***** ****** **** of **** *******.
***** ** * ***** ** ****** packing ** *** ******** *** ******* from *** ***:
Passerby ******** *****
******** **** ********* ** *** ****, the ******** ** *** *** ** LFR ********** *** *****.*** ***** *** **** ** ****’* aware **** *** ****** ****, **** he *** ********** ** ****** **** would ******** ** ******* *** ******** people’s ********* ******* **** *** ******, and **** ** *** ******** ***** cases ** ******** ********:
********’* *** * ************, ***’* ****?
******* *** *** **** ********:
*** **** ** *** ** ***** it, ** *****?
*** *** **** ****, *******, ****** made ***** *** ******* *** *** area ******* *** **** *******/**********. ***** seemed ** ** **** ******* ********* about ** **** ** *** **** London**********, ******** *** ** *** ******* foot ******* *** ***** *******.
Deployment *******: ** *******/*******
** ******* ** ******* **** **** during *** **********, ****** *********. *******, police ** *** ***** ********* *** stop-and-searches. *** *** ** * ***** man *** ****** ** ****** ********* the *** ****** *** *** *** hands ** *** *******. *** ****** was ******* ***** *** *** **** witnessed ***** ******* ******* *** *** zone *** ** ******* ******. **** men **** ******** ******* ******, ******** the ***** *** ********* ****** *** placed ** * ****** ***, ********* to *** ******* *****.
**** ****** ******** **** ****** ** the ***** (*** **********) ***** ***** incidents *** *** ******** ** ********.
Big ******* ***** *********: "******** ****** *******"
* ******** ******** ** *** ***********, privacy ****** ******** ******* *********** ** ** ******* *** *********. IPVM ***** **** *** ********,****** *****, ***** *** *** ** ***, and ***** ******** ***** *** ************ on ***** *********:
***** ** * ********** [******** ****]:
**** *******, *** ************ ****** ********* that **** **** ***** ** *** live ****** *********** *** **** **** done *** *** **** *** ***** in ********** ****.Instantly, *** ********** ** ******, ****'** ******* ** *** ***** **** ***** ** **** ******* *******. But for us this is exhausting. This whole technology, this ***** ********* *** **** ****** **** *** ***** really. There's no way that a mass surveillance technology should be being used in London, a democratic city. This isn't something anyone's voted for, this isn't something anyone wants, and it *****'* **** ****. Yet again we've **** **** * ******** ****** *******. We've seen two young black boys being stopped and made late on their way to work, searched, cuffed, put in the back of a car for no reason before being let go again. This is atrocious and Parliament urgently ***** ** **** ****** ** *** **.
Final ********: **** **** ** ******
**** **** *** ********** ********* * number ** ******, *******:
- ******* **********: ***** *** **** ****** can ***** ******* **** ** ****, such ******* ***** *********** **** *** umbrellas *** **** *******/***** **** ******* their *****. **** ** ********* **** no **** ********* ******** ***** **** moving *** ******* ** ****** ********.
- ********* ********: **** *** ********** *** called *** ***** *** ** * software *****. *******, ******* ***** ***********/**********, such ******** ****** * ******* ** effectiveness.
- ****** *****: **** ** ********* **** the *****-*** ***** ******** ** *** police *** **** ********** *** ***********. Lower ********** ***** **** ** **** errors ***** *** *****'* **** ****-***** function **** *** **** ** ******* use **** *** **** ********.
- **** *******, ************** ********: **** ********** resulted ** ** ******* ** *******. However, *** ****** ******** *** ** the ****-***-****** ** *** ***** *** who **** ******* ** *** **********, which ****** **************/****** ********.
Met ****** ********
*** *** ****** **** **** **** statement **** ** ***** ***** ****** surrounding *** **********:
*** ***’* ********** ** ****** *********** technology ** ** ******** *** ******* on ******** ***** ****** *** ******* and ******* ********, **** ** **** pose * **** ** *** ******. The ****-***** ******** ** **** ******** meant **** ** *** *********** ** flag *** ***** *** **** ****** Recognition ** **** *** ***** *** corporate ******* ******** *** *** *** website **** * *** **** ****** period. **** ***** **** ** *** opportunity ** ****** ****** ****** ****** our ****** *********** *** *** ****** signage ****** ******* ** *** ********** area ******* ****** *** **** ***** of *** **** ****** *********** ********** before ******** ** **** ******* **.***** ** ****** ******** ** ***** governing *** ***’* *** ** **** Facial ***********, ********* ** *** ***’* website. ** ******. **.** ****** *** operation, ***** *** **** ****** *********** system *** ******* *********, ***** *** a ************ ***** ******* *** **** database *** *** **** **** ******* given ** ********. *** ******** ****** which ******* *** ***** ***** ** required ** *** ******* ** **** a ******** ** ******* ** *** to ****** **** ** **********. ***** this, *** ******** *** ***** ** stop *** **** ****** *********** **** of *** *********.
**** *** ******** ** ***** *** other ****** (****** ******, ****, ***) and **** ****** ***********.
**********
***** *** *** ******** *********** ***** and *** ******* ******** **** *********, IPVM ** ********* ** *** ******* of *** ****** ***'* *** ******. Without **** *******/****** ***********, *** *** case *** *** ** ******* *******.
**** ******** ** ** *** *******:******* ****** ****** ** ***** *******
******'* ** ** ****** ** ***** the ******* *****, ******* ** *** side ** *** *** **** ***** average ****** (** *** **** *****'* heads)? * *** **** *** ****** "upgrade" ****** *** *********, *** ** seems **** ***** ********** ******'* ** very **********. ****, ** *** **** to ********* **** *** *** *****, then * ***'* *** *** ** could **** ** *********. ** *** are ******* ****, ******* * ***, you ***'* *** *** **** *** you **** ***'* ** ********** ** the ******. **** ***'* **** **********, because **** *** **** *** ** the **** *******.
*******' ***** **** ** ****** ********** (upgrade **** *** ***** ****** ******* they ***) **** ****** ****** **** consideration. **** ******* *** **** ***** point ****** ** ****** *-*'. **** also ***** ******* **** *** ***** at ****** *'. **** ***** *** done * ******* ****** **** *** mounted **** ******* **** *** **** doors. *******, **** ******** * **** Depot, * *****'* **** *** ******* cameras **** * ** ** *******.
*** ** **** *** *********** ***** money ** **** **** ********** ** all **** *****’* **** **** ****. Yes ** ******* ********** ****** *********** works. ** *** **** ***** *** so ****. *** ***** *** ** least.
** "*** ******* *****" *** ******* why **** *** ****** *****'* ****? Surely * ****** ***** *****'* ******* their ***** ** * **** *****? Governments **** ****** **** ***** ** stuff ** **** *******, ******* ********* is * ***** *****.. ** ** didn't *** *** ********** ** ***** have ****** ******.
***** ***** ** ** *****'* ****** when * ****** ****** ***** *** identify ** **** *******, ***** **** in ***** ****. *** **** * camera *****'* ** *** *** *********..
** *********** **** *** ***** ** the ***, ** *** **** *** read *** ***** (**** *** ***** font *** ** *****), ** ******* you *** ******* ***** ******* ******* consent. ** *** ****, ** * 180 *** ******* *****, ******'* **** create **** **** ** ******** ***** to ** *******?
*** *** ***'* ** ******* ** they *** ******* ** ******* *** a ******* * ***** ***** *********** any **** ** ******* ******... *** public *** *** ****** ** *** leaving ***** ***** ** ** ** their ****, *** **** ****** ** tracking **** ** ** **** ** hour **/***... ***!
** **** **** ** **** *** smell **** ** *******, *** *** should **** *** ***** ** *** sidewalk **** *** *****: * **** for ***** *** ********** **** ***** consent ** ******* * **** **** (like * ******** ******* ********* '* agree') ****** **** *** *******, *** those *** **** **** ** **** through ******* ******* (*** **'** *** how **** ********* ********* **** ******). There's * ****** *** ** ****** ask *** ****** ***** ******** ** they ********** ***** (*******) ******. ** seems *** **** *** ****** *********** will **** ** ******* *******, **** under ** ************* **********.
** ** **** ** ***** ****** was ******** ******* *** ******* ****** data? ** ** **** **** **** taking ***** *** ********* ** * database ** ***** "******* *********"?
** *** ***** ******** ** ****, then * ********** *** ******* ********. However, * ** ******* ** ** how **** ***** ** ********* *** facial **** **** * ********. ******* any ***** ******* ******* * ****, wouldn't *** ****** **** ** **** to *** * ****** **;
**** #: **** [******** ****** = X]
*****: ****.***
********: ***
****: **:****
** *** ****** ******** ** ****, then * ***** *********** **** **** and ***** **** **** *** ******* at *** ******, *** **** **** the ****** ***** **** ** ****, compare ** * ******** ** "******* criminals", ****** ** *****, *** **** on ** *** **** ****. *** only **** ****** ***** **; ** instance ** *** ****** ****** * face, * ******** ****** **** ********, and * **** ********** **** *** 'match = *****' ******. ** *** end ** *** ***, *** **** would **** ***** ** * *** of **** ***** ****, *** * returned ******** ******* ** ********* "******* criminals". ** ****** ****** ******* ***** be ******, *** ****** ******'* ** keeping **** ** ***** ****** ***, or ***** **** **** *****.
**** ** * ******** ** * possible *****, * ***** * ***** get ** ******* **** ** *** back, **** ** ******* ******** "** FINALLY *** ***! ***'** ***** ****** for *** [****** ******* ***** ****]!". I ****** **** **** ***** **** to ****** ** ******* ** ** face, *** ****** ** **. **** would ******** ******** ** ********** **** in **** *** ***** *** **********. Yes, ** ***** ** ******** ** be ******* *** ** ** **-*** seconds **** **** *** ****** **** the ***. *** ***** **** **** the **** ***** ********** *** **** enough, ********* ** **** ***** *********.
**** **********: * **** ******* ** UK ******* ****.
** ** **** ** ***** ****** was ******** ******* *** ******* ****** data? ** ** **** **** **** taking ***** *** ********* ** * database ** ***** "******* *********"?
** *** ***** ****** ** *** face *** ****, ****** ******** "****** ** ***** ** *********, the ****** **** *********** *** ************* delete **** ********* ****". ** ****'* happening ** *** ****** ******** *** described.
** ** **** ***** ******:
** ****** ****** ******* ***** ** logged, *** ****** ******'* ** ******* tabs ** ***** ****** ***, ** where **** **** *****.
***, ** ***** ** ******** ** be ******* *** ** ** **-*** seconds **** **** *** ****** **** the ***. *** ***** **** **** the **** ***** ********** *** **** enough, ********* ** **** ***** *********.
* ***** *** **** ******* ******* and ******** ** ****** ** **** serious **** **-** ******* ** **********. Sometimes, ****** **** ****** *** ***** them ** **** ****** ********* ****, as ******** ****** **** ********** (******** this *** *** ***** ** * face *****). *** ****** **** **** year, * *** *************** *********** **** ** ** ****** ******* an *** ****** *** ***** ** pounds ($***).
* ***** *** ******* ********** **** activists *** *** ********* *** ***** stand ********** ** ******* ********* **** data ** ******* ** ***:
- *** ** ****-**********. ** *** ***** for **** ** ** ** *****.
- ***** ** **** ** ** *********** or **** ***** *********** **** ************ govern *** ** ***.
- **** ** ********* **** **** ** deleted ***********, ********* *******'* **** ** a ********* ********** ** ************ ******** of ******* ** *********. **'* **** being ****** ** ***** ** * police-lineup. *****'* ** *******/*******/***.
- *** **** ** ***** *********, ********** for **********, ******* ** ******** ****-***-******** - ***** ***** **** ** ***********, confrontations, ***.
** ** **** ** ***** ****** was ******** ******* *** ******* ****** data?
**** *** *** *** *’* *********...
******* ** ****** ***** *** ******** reduced *** **** ***** ********* **** 2 ***** ** * **** **** privacy ********!!!
**** ****** ******** *** ***** **** plus *****/**** ** ******* **** *** over ****.
**** *** ********** ** **** ****** as *** **’* ****** ************ ****** to ** *** *******, *** *** only ******* **** *** **** ** will ****** ******* **** ********* (** has ******* ******** *** ** **)
***** *** ***** ****** ** *** operation *** *** ************ ***** **** almost ***** ******** *** ** **** I ***'* **** *** ***** **** is ****** * ****** ******* ********.
**** *** *** ***** **** ** catch *********, ** ****** **** ******* out **** *** ***** **** ** gauge ****** ******** *** *******.
* ***** ** ******* ** *** money *** ****** ********** **** *** measure *** ******* ** ***** ********** based ** ********* ******, ******* **** be **** *** ******** ** ****** view ****** *********** ** ****** *** do *** *** *** **** ********* to ** **** **** ** ** the ******* ******* ****** ***** *******. At **** ***** ****** *** **** facial *********** ******** ****** *** ****** deployments.
* ***** ** ******* ** *** money *** ****** ********** **** *** measure *** ******* ** ***** ********** based ** ********* ******, ******* **** be **** *** ******** ** ****** view ****** *********** ** ****** *** do *** *** *** **** ********* to ** **** **** ** ** the ******* ******* ****** ***** *******. At **** ***** ****** *** **** facial *********** ******** ****** *** ****** deployments.
* *****... **’* **** *** ***** speed ****** *** ***** **** ** years ***!
** **** ** ***** *** *******, check ******** *** **** ** *******, drivers ***** ***** ******** ******** ** warn ****...
*** ** *** ******* ** **** tag ** ** ****!
***** ******, ** ****** ***********.... ******* under **** ********** ******** ***** **** DPA2012 *** ****. ***** *** ****** Recognition ********* **** ***** **** *** GDPR *********, *** **** ***** *** and ****? *** *** ** ** in *** ********** ****** ** ****** - *** ***** ** *** (******** Union ****) **** ******* *** *****?**** ******** ♛ ** ********: #****** and *** ****** ** #***********
** **** ****** ** ************ ******** event ******** ** ********** **** **** and ******* * ****** ** ***** before ****.
*** ** *** **** ***** ****, it ** ***** ***** ******, *** Legality ** ***. **** ** *** process *** ********* ****? **** ** the ******* *** ******* ******** ******* detected ? ** * *** **** stopped, * ***** ******** **** * scene, ***** * *** **** ******** by *** ***** ********* - ***** them **** * **** *** ******* them **** ** ******* ** *** good *******!
* ** *** *** ***** ********** but **** ** *** ***** ** installed, ******* **** ******* *** ********, leaving ** **** ** *******.
**** ** ******* -**** **** ....
****** *** *** **********, **** *** liked **** ****!
**** ** ** *****, *** ****** Met's **** *** ********** ** *** covered ** *** **** ** **** or *******. ** ** ******* ** the*** ** ******* ****** *********** *********.*** ** ****** **** *** ** governed ** *** ***, *** *** GDPR. *** *** *** ***** ************* more ****** *** ********** ********** **** GDPR.
***** *** ****** *********** ********* **** boast **** *** **** *********, *** what ***** *** *** ****?
*** ***-*** *********** *** ** **** rec, **** *** *** **** ** apply. ******* * ***'* *** *** PECR ** ******** ** **** ***. PECR ********* *************** ****** *********, *******, ***. *******, even *** "**** *********" ***** *** be ******* ***** **** *** ** government ****'* ********** *********** **** **** rec ***** ** **** *****. *** more, *** *** ****** ********* **** ********** **********.
*** ** *** **** ***** ****, it ** ***** ***** ******, *** Legality ** ***. **** ** *** process *** ********* ****? **** ** the ******* *** ******* ******** ******* detected ? ** * *** **** stopped, * ***** ******** **** * scene, ***** * *** **** ******** by *** ***** ********* - ***** them **** * **** *** ******* them **** ** ******* ** *** good *******!
******* **(***** ** ************) *** **** (**** ******* ****** *****) *** **** obligations. *** ** *********, *** ****** police **** *** - *** *** EU ****** **** *** - ** governed ** *** *** *********** *********, which ** ******** **** *** **** and *****'* **** ***** ********. ** invoking ***** ******'* ** *** **** good ** *** ****** ******* * London *** *** ****.
****** **** *** *** *****.
*** ****** ***** ******* ****** *********** from '***-********' ******* - *** ****
******: *** *** ******** *** *** Met, ************ ******** ****, **** **** a******* ******** ***** *** ******** ******** *** use. ****** ********** ** **** ***** should ***** *** *** ******** ** LFR, ********** ** **:**.
****'* ******* ****** ** * **** points:
*** ** **** **** ******* *** apparently ********* ***** ***** *** ***’* use ** ***:
- *** **** ** *** ***** does ***, ******, ***, ***** **** biometric ****.
- ***** ******** **** ****** **** the ***** ********* ** ******* ** not ** ********* – *** *** machine.
- ******* **** ** ** ** for ******* *****.
- *** **** ** *** ********* is ****** *** ** **** ** ethnic ****.
- **’** **** ********** **** *** transparent ***** ** - ***** *** our *******. *** *** ** **** clearly **********.
*** ************ **** ***-******* ****** *******'* be *******, ********** ** *** *** of ****** *****:
******** ** * ****** ** ******, I **** ** *****. ** ** age ** ******* *** ********* *** Facebook, ******* ***** ** ***** *** that ** ** ****** ***-******* ******** passing ******* *** *** *** ***** stored, ***** ****, **** ******* **** my *** *** ******’* ***** *********** to ** **** **** **** * knife ******* *** *****.
*** ************ ******* **** ** *** claim **** *** ***'* *** (***** is ***'* *******) *** ** ****** bias:
** **** ***** *** **** ***** technologies **** ** **** ****, *** as * **** ****, **** *****’*. Currently, *** **** **** ** **, is **** ** ***** ** ** slightly ****** ** ******** * ****** women **** * ****** ***.
**** *********** **** ******** **** **** the **** ** ******* **** *** technology *** ** ''*******'' ****, *** it ******** * ***** ****** ***, rigged **** ***** **** (*** ****** visible) ******* - ** **** *** 5 ***** - ** **** *** search *** ***** ***.
*** *** ** *** **** *** use ** *** **** **** (*** cost) ** ******* **** * ****** as **** **** **** **** ** comes ** ****** **** ** **** and ******.
** *** *** **** - ** only ****** ** ** **** **'* another **** ** ******* ****-******* ******* to * ****** ***** ********* ** not ** ****** ** ** ****** be.
***** ** * ********** [******** ****]:
**** *******, *** ************ ****** ********* that **** **** ***** ** *** live ****** *********** *** **** **** done *** *** **** *** ***** in ********** ****.Instantly, *** ********** ** ******, ****'** ******* ** *** ***** **** ***** ** **** ******* *******. But for us this is exhausting. This whole technology, this ***** ********* *** **** ****** **** *** ***** really. There's no way that a mass surveillance technology should be being used in London, a democratic city. This isn't something anyone's voted for, this isn't something anyone wants, and it *****'* **** ****. Yet again we've **** **** * ******** ****** *******. We've seen two young black boys being stopped and made late on their way to work, searched, cuffed, put in the back of a car for no reason before being let go again. This is atrocious and Parliament urgently ***** ** **** ****** ** *** **.
******: ****** ** *** **
**** ***** ** **** **** *** off ***** *** **********. **** *** the ******?
*****, **** *** ** *****/**** ******** from *** ***** ** * ******* the **** - *****'* ** ******.
*****'* ** ****** **** *** *** Police** ***** *** ***********, ******* ***** poor *******:
** *** *** ************ ******* ******* ** ********* (**** London)*** ******* **** ****** **** *,*** faces ****. *** ****** ****** ********** this ******* ** ***** *** * total ****, *.*. ** ******* *** to *** ********* ******. *** ***'* repeat ****** ****** *** ********** ** Feb ** (***** ** *** *** cover) *** * "*********" ****** *** 1 "********", ********* ** * ******.
** ***, ****'* ***** ******** ****-*******, resource-intensive ****** ********** *** *** *** arrest.
**** ******.
** **** **** ***** ***'* ****** recognition (**** *** *** ** *****) is ****** *** ** ***** ****** of ****** *********** *** ****** ****** exaggerated? * ****** *** ****** *** am ********* *******.
**'* **** ** **** *******, *** I ** ***** **** ***** **** rec *** ** * ***** ******* van **** ***** *** ****** **** make ********* ******'* ***** **** *********. In ***** *** ** **** **** ubiquitous *** ******, ** **** ******** get ******** ****** *******. ***** ****** also******************* **** *** **** ********* ******** and *** ** ******* ** *********** buildings,.
** *** **** ****, ** *** is ************* ******** *** **** *** results ******, *** *** *** ********** has * ***** ** ******** ***** at ****-**** ******** ******** *********.
**** *** ****** ** *** **** Q6215-LE. *** ***** ***** **** **** testing *** **********, ***'* **** ** remove *** ********* ********* ** *** performance ** *** ****** *********** ********** by ******** *** ***** ** **** hardware *** ** ** *** ****.
*** **** *****-** ****** ** ****** like ****, *********, *******, *** ******** installation ************, *** ** **** ** scenes **** ****. ********* **+ ***** have **** * *** **** ***** for ******** ******.
* **** ****'** ********* ***** ***** and *******, *** ** ** **** I, **** ***** ********* ******'* **** been ****** ** *****. *** *** test ** **** *** ********** ** well ** *** ********** *** ***** deployment ******* ******* ********* ** **********. That *** ****** ******'* ** ******** to ***** **. ***** ** ** the ************...
**, ****** ******* ************** **** ****. I **** ******** *** * ***** weekend.