Automated Facial Recognition in Law Enforcement: The Queen (On Application of Edward Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police

Authors

  • Barrie Gordon University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2021/v24i0a8923

Keywords:

Automated facial recognition, facial biometrics, Bridges, human rights violations, law enforcement, biometric data, Protection of Personal Information Act, privacy, POPI, data retention

Abstract

The use of automated facial recognition in law enforcement is still a novel practice and as a result the legislative framework for this technology is ill-defined. The judgement of The Queen (on application of Edward Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2020] EWCA Civ 1058 is the first case in the world that examines pertinent legal questions pertaining to this new technology. Automatic facial recognition may be used in law enforcement, but to prevent massive human rights violations, operators should perform their duties within a well-defined legal framework where discretion is kept to the minimum, and strict data-retention policies are followed. Furthermore, human oversight should always be part of an automated facial recognition system to ensure accuracy, fairness, and compliance with the law.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bibliography

Literature

Botha J "Medical Records and POPI" 2018 TSF 40-42

De Marsico M (ed) Face Recognition in Adverse Conditions (IGI Global Hershey 2014)

De Sousa J et al Neuromarketing and Big Data Analytics for Strategic Consumer Engagement (IGI Global Hershey 2017)

Hawthorne M Fingerprints: Analysis and Understanding (CRC Press Boca Raton 2009)

Kamila N Handbook of Research on Emerging Perspectives in Intelligent Pattern Recognition, Analysis, and Image Processing (IGI Global Hershey 2015)

Lee-Morriso

Lee-Morrison L Portraits of Automated Facial Recognition: On Machinic Ways of Seeing the Face (Transcript Bielefeld 2020)

Li S et al Handbook of Face Recognition (Springer London 2011)

Makin D DNA and Property Crime Scene Investigation: Forensic Evidence and Law Enforcement (Anderson Amsterdam 2014)

Mann M et al "Automated Facial Recognition Technology: Recent Developments and Approaches to Oversight" 2017 UNSWLJ 121-145

Pienaar L "Access to the Medical Records of a Child: Legislative Review Required" 2014 SAJHR 508-525

Roos A "The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its Implications for South African Data Privacy Law: An Evaluation of Selected 'Content Principles'" 2020 CILSA 1-37

Staunton C et al "Safeguarding the Future of Genomic Research in South Africa: Broad Consent and the Protection of Personal Information Act No 4 of 2013" 2019 SAMJ 468-470

Case law

Edward Bridges v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2019] EWHC 2341 (Admin)

PG and JH v United Kingdom [2001] ECHR 546 (25 September 2001)

R (Brown) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] EWHC 3158 (Admin); [2009] PTSR 1506

R (Hurley & Moore) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills [2012] EWHC 201 (Admin); [2012] HRLR 13

R (S) v Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police [2004] 1 WLR 2196

R (Wood) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2010] 1 WLR 123

S and Marper v United Kingdom [2009] 48 EHRR 50

The Queen (on application of Edward Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2020] EWCA Civ 1058

Legislation

Australia

Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act, 2015

South Africa

Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011

Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000

Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013

United Kingdom

Data Protection Act 29 of 1998

Data Protection Act 12 of 2018

Equality Act 15 of 2010

Police Act 16 of 1996

Protection of Freedoms Act 9 of 2012

International instruments

European Convention on Human Rights (1950)

Internet sources

Davies B, Dawson A and Innes M 2020 How Facial Recognition Technology Aids Police https://theconversation.com/how-facial-recognition-technology-aids-police-107730 accessed 31 August 2020

TechCentral 2020 Vumacam Wins 'Spy Camera' Case Against City https://techcentral.co.za/vumacam-wins-spy-camera-court-case-against-city/100653/ accessed 31 August 2020

Vumacam 2020 Vumacam https://www.vumacam.co.za/ accessed 31 August 2020

Published

30-06-2021

Issue

Section

Case Notes

How to Cite

Gordon, B. (2021). Automated Facial Recognition in Law Enforcement: The Queen (On Application of Edward Bridges) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 24, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2021/v24i0a8923

Similar Articles

1-10 of 1176

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.