Facewatch facial recognition
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Facewatch is a UK-based company that provides real-time facial recognition analysis and biometric watchlists to shops, pubs, and other public venues. It also offers its services to the police.
The system is intended to identify shoplifters from a database of actual and suspected criminals, and to ensure safety, alerting customer employees when a suspect enters one of their stores or when a violent act occurs.
System info 🔢
Operator: Budgens; Flannels; Frasers Group; Home Bargains; Southern Co-op; SPAR; Sports Direct
Developer: Facewatch
Country: UK
Sector: Govt - police; Media/entertainment/sports/arts; Retail; Travel/hospitality
Purpose: Identify criminals
Technology: Facial recognition
Issue: Accuracy/reliability; Human/civil rights; Privacy
Transparency: Governance; Complaints/appeals; Marketing; Privacy
Risks and harms 🛑
The use of Facewatch's facial recognition system has sparked civil rights and privacy campaigners to express concerns about data rights and privacy, inadequate transparency, and the increasing use of surveillance technology in the private sector.
Transparency and accountability 🙈
Facewatch has been criticised for several transparency and accountability limitations:
System accuracy. Facewatch does not provide detailed information on the accuracy of its facial recognition system, making it difficult to assess its reliability.
Data sharing. It is unclear who Facewatch shares its facial recognition data with, and under what circumstances.
Data retention. It is unclear how long Facewatch retains facial recognition data, and under what circumstances it is deleted.
Independent oversight. There is no independent body to oversee Facewatch's use of facial recognition, leaving it to self-regulate.
System audits. Facewatch does not provide information on whether it conducts regular audits of its facial recognition system to ensure it is working correctly and fairly.
Error accountability. Facewatch's facial recognition system is not transparent about who is accountable for errors or mistakes made by the system.
Complaints and appeals. There is no clear process for individuals to challenge incorrect matches or errors made by the system.