UK Expands Facial Recognition Vans with 10 New Units Across Seven Forces Amid Privacy Concerns

The UK government is expanding the deployment of live facial recognition technology through the introduction of 10 new vans across seven police forces in England. This initiative aims to assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending suspects involved in serious crimes such as rape and violent assaults. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that the technology is a powerful tool to help police catch criminals, a view supported by Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Crime and Policing. However, the rollout has raised concerns among privacy advocates and human rights watchdogs who warn of potential threats to democracy. Separately, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is using facial recognition in its PreCheck Touchless ID program at 15 airports across four airlines, though it also faces criticism over privacy issues. Additionally, biometric methods including fingerprints, access keys, and facial recognition are increasingly replacing traditional passwords, despite public hesitancy toward these technologies.