(Sheffield, Heeley)
(Lab):...The facial recognition software used by the
South Wales police has not been tested against those biases
either, but this is not just about facial recognition software.
Significant technologies and algorithms are being used by law
enforcement agencies across the country. We have already
discussed the algorithm used to make recommendations on custody.
Automatic number plate recognition has been rolled out across
many forces—we will discuss a code of practice for that when we
come to a later amendment. Fingerprint-scanning mobile devices
have recently been rolled out across West Yorkshire police. I
mentioned earlier, in relation to another amendment, that
South
Yorkshire Police is now tagging individuals who
frequently go missing.
It was brought to my attention this morning that South
Yorkshire Police and Avon and Somerset police have a
technology that allows them to track the movements of mobile
phone users within a given area and intercept texts and calls.
These are called international mobile subscriber
identity—IMSI—catchers. They mimic cell towers, which mobile
phones connect to in order to make and receive phone calls and
text messages. When they are deployed, every mobile phone within
an 8 sq km area will try to connect to the dummy tower. The IMSI
catchers will then trace the location and unique IMSI number of
each phone, which can then be used to identify and track
people...
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