Dear John,

This week, we’ve been in court challenging South Wales Police’s ongoing use of facial recognition technology in public.

Our client, Ed Bridges, has been scanned by police facial recognition cameras twice – once when Christmas shopping, and again at a peaceful protest. The police’s use of the tech is a major violations of Ed’s and thousands of other people’s privacy.

South Wales police is at the forefront, but other forces – including London’s Metropolitan Police – and private companies are also using it.

The case is a crucial opportunity to stem the tide and highlight why this dangerous and oppressive tech must ultimately be banned. 

Please help in our fight against facial recognition by signing our petition today. 

Facial recognition cameras scan everyone within range without their knowledge or consent and compare the unique points of their faces to images on secretive watch lists. 

We know from documents unearthed by Ed’s case that watch list images can be of anyone at all and come from anywhere – including our social media accounts.
And it’s particularly bad news if you’re a woman or a person of colour, because you’re more likely to be misidentified by it and stopped, questioned and searched by the police. 

South Wales Police has used the tech on almost 70 occasions, scanning thousands of people’s faces and snatching their unique biometric data at protests, football and rugby matches, concerts, busy shopping streets and the seaside. Really whenever they feel like it.

Last year the High Court said while the tech does affect our human rights, the force’s use of it in public wasn’t unlawful. We disagree, so we’re heading to the Court of Appeal tomorrow. 

In granting us permission to appeal, Lord Justice Singh said our arguments have a real chance of success and there is a compelling reason for such important issues to be heard.

We’ve only been able to continue this crucial case thanks to generous donations from the public. If you’re able to, please donate to support it. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Martha Spurrier
Director

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