Bath to get live facial recognition technology
2026-11-05
BBC
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Avon and Somerset Police will deploy live facial recognition technology in Bath, supported by South Wales Police. The AI system will scan public faces to identify wanted or at-risk individuals, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties. The deployment is planned but not yet executed.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event involves an AI system (live facial recognition) used by police for surveillance and identification. While the police state safeguards and oversight, the deployment of LFR technology inherently carries plausible risks of harm, including privacy violations and potential misuse, which could lead to violations of human rights or other harms. No actual harm or incident is reported at this stage; the event is about the planned introduction of the technology. Therefore, it fits the definition of an AI Hazard, as the AI system's use could plausibly lead to an AI Incident in the future if harms materialize.[AI generated]