FOI release

FOI2021/00501: Facial Recognition Software

This request was refused in full, so we didn't provide the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2021/00501

Published 6 December 2021

Request

Request Received: 19 November 2021

I'm writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to ask that you please disclose the details of any Live Facial Recognition Software (LfR / LFRT), retrospective facial recognition (RFR), or Automated Facial Recognition Software by yourselves, and whether it works in conjunction with either your local council or the local police force (as applicable per recipient of this request).

This includes bodycams, vehicular, or stationary cameras.

For police forces, I'd like to know in what circumstances this technology has been used, and in cases of arrests the amount of people scanned vs positives hits, and how many of these positive hits on potential criminals resulted in a correct match leading to arrest.

In the case of local councils, I'd like to know if the software used shared information with either local law enforcement, national agencies, or was used by council-based intelligence hubs. I'd like to know what information is typically garnered, how long it is held for, and whether this was announced publicly.

In case this information is withheld citing sections 23, 24, or 31, I'd instead like information of any work undertaken with or correspondence between you and the following companies: Neoface / NEC, Rekognition, AFR Locate, or Reveal, including cost and times undertaken.

I'm aware that at least 6 constabularies, including the Met, have trialled software and that this information is publicly available to an extent, but in the instance of national security exemptions would like to have the bare bones of the information, which I do not believe would impact this, such as a confirmation of trials, correspondence, or agreements and the names of the companies given, as a matter of public interest and without divulging further specifics.

Clarification received on 28 November 2021:

Asked to clarify whether interested in work STFC is doing or support STFC provides on grants ie to universities
I'd actually be interested in both please.

Response

Response Sent: 6 December 2021

Full details of this response are provided in the attached document.

Documents

This is UK Research and Innovation's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.