Live Facial Recognition (LFR) is a real-time biometric technology that has great potential in examination, investigation, monitoring, and deterrence in order to improve security. LFR cameras are set up in focused areas of significant people traffic to identify people through digital image recognition. This biometric technology is already being used by police forces, governments, and commercial businesses around the world and often at great success. In April last year, facial recognition technology made headlines when police in the Indian city of New Delhi was able to identify nearly 3000 missing children over a period of just four days, speaking to how powerful the technology can be.

Several police forces in the UK such as the Metropolitan Police, and South Wales Police, are currently running live facial recognition trials. The applications of this technology are widespread and provide enhanced intelligence as well as deterrence in places the technology is active. Live facial recognition is well suited for anti-terrorism units, border police, military, and national security units, and prison and detainment facilities to reduce and control threats and maintain peace.

While live facial recognition is a powerful tool, careful consideration is needed in its implementation. With the advent of GDPR on 25 of May 2018 privacy laws have become tighter and compliances with these laws is essential for providing high-quality national security. Privacy and data handling compliance in biometrics is paramount since the collected and analysed data is only useful if it is lawful and allowed to be collected and stored. For example, earlier this year HMRC were issued with a notice from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to delete five million biometric records it had taken without consent. We aim to provide clarity on biometric compliance with EU and UK law. 

Biometric technology wouldn’t be where it is today without the student and technology scientist led innovation. Technology students in universities across the UK working on the next generation of biometric tools to be used by security professionals. We are continually seeing innovation in all areas of biometrics including chemical biometrics such as DNA matching; visual biometrics such as faces, fingerprints, iris, retina, and ear recognition; behavioural recognition in the form of gait recognition; and olfactory recognition whereby odour is used to determine identity. Biometrics is quickly becoming an established new professional field in the 21st Century that we will increasingly rely on for national security.

The next generation of innovators in biometrics will come from a range of scientific disciplines such as electronic engineering, wireless communications engineering, computer science, information security, and other science and IT based disciplines. We want to encourage students in these disciplines to explore the concepts, theories and techniques behind biometrics to help inspire them towards a career innovating the next generation of biometric tools.