Biometrics and Identification
Beyond facial images, police forces increasingly use fingerprint, DNA, iris, voice and gait data to identify individuals. Biometric data is treated as special category data under UK GDPR, which places significant constraints on how it may be collected, retained and shared. This section covers the technology, the retention debate, and oversight by the Biometrics Commissioner.
Latest coverage
Scotland's biometrics commissioner has renewed his call for new laws to govern the use of live facial recognition technology in policing. Dr Brian Plastow warned that UK bodies…
Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to strictly limit the federal government's use of facial recognition and other biometric tools. Senator Edward Markey is leading…
Moldova's Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to set up a national facial image registry. Law enforcement would use facial biometrics from the system to identify suspects and…
Specialist law enforcement officers from 11 countries have gathered in Tunisia to capture and analyse face biometrics from suspected terrorists. Interpol coordinated the meeting…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has cleared a backlog of DNA samples waiting to be processed. At its peak, the delay affected around 1.81 million federally gathered…
US Customs and Border Protection is looking for a biometric system that can photograph travellers as they walk through airport arrivals. The technology will apply to users of the…
Interpol is helping Moldova boost its biometric border capabilities to stop organized criminals and terrorists crossing its borders. The work includes two initiatives focused on…
Police in Bengaluru have warned residents to be careful when using viral artificial intelligence photo applications. The force said uploading selfies to the platforms could lead…
A US congressman has introduced legislation to curb federal funding for automated licence plate readers and biometric surveillance cameras. Representative Thomas Massie, a…
Police oversight boards must urgently make artificial intelligence biometrics a regular agenda item, according to the UK data regulator. A review across several forces found…
Prosecutors are opposing the use of biometric evidence in court. However, arguments suggest fairness requires allowing biometrics if juries can already hear from laypeople to help…
Greater Manchester Police scanned nearly 80,000 faces using live facial recognition over two days at the Manchester Caribbean Carnival. The operation subjected both adults and…