British Court Rules in Favor of Police In Unprecedented Facial Recognition Case

British Court Rules in Favor of Police In Unprecedented Facial Recognition Case

Deciding on one of the first cases ever to consider the legality of live facial recognition, a British court found that police use of the tool did not violate privacy laws or human rights.

In a case with potentially wide ranging ramifications for security companies in Europe and across the globe, a British court ruled against a man who challenged police use of automated, or live, facial recognition technology. The High Court said it was the first time any court in the world had considered the use of facial recognition.

Ed Bridges sued the South Wales Police Department earlier this year, arguing that his human rights were violated when he was recorded without permission while Christmas shopping and later while attending a political rally. Bridges and the civil rights group Liberty, which sued on his behalf, said police use of the tool was also a breach of data protection and equality laws.

However, the High Court dismissed the suit on Tuesday, stating that the South Wales Police met the requirements of Britain’s Human Rights Act and that there were “sufficient legal controls” to prevent the department’s abuse of the technology, including its policy of deleting data unless it pertained to a person identified from the watch list.

Bridges and his lawyers vowed to appeal the decision, stating that the judgment does not reflect the “very serious threat” that facial recognition poses to society. Through appeals, Bridges could take the case all the way to Britain’s Supreme Court.

“This sinister technology undermines our privacy and I will continue to fight against its unlawful use to ensure our rights are protected and we are free from disproportionate government surveillance,” Bridges said in a statement.

Police officials praised the decision, noting that the technology has allowed them to fight crime efficiently despite budget cuts. Alun Michael, the police and crime commissioner for South Wales, said that keeping communities safe has become “increasingly difficult” because government funds for police have been cut by a third in recent years.

“That has made it essential to use innovation and embrace technology like Facial Recognition if we are to have any hope of maintaining police numbers in our local communities across South Wales,” Michael said in a statement.

He added that the court appeared to recognize how his police department has prioritized balancing the protection of privacy rights with keeping the public safe. Matt Jukes, who oversees South Wales as chief constable of the police force, called the camera system and policies surrounding its use “innovative work.”

While he welcomes the decision, Jukes said he knows it is not the end of the “wider debate” around the use of facial recognition in public life.

“There is, and should be, a political and public debate about wider questions of privacy and security,” Jukes said. “It would be wrong in principle for the police to set the bounds of our use of new technology for ourselves.”

The Information Commissioner’s Office, which serves as the top privacy and data rights watchdog in Britain, said it is also reviewing the judgment carefully.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the office welcomes the court’s finding that live facial recognition systems require compliance with existing data protection laws due to their processing of sensitive personal data. The ICO recently finished its own investigation of police pilot programs of the technology and will release recommendations and guidance to police departments soon, the spokesperson said.

“This new and intrusive technology has the potential, if used without the right privacy safeguards, to undermine rather than enhance confidence in the police,” the ICO said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.