World’s first facial recognition court case warns police over privacy violations

Analysis: South Wales Police may have won the landmark court battle, but others using the technology may not pass the same test, says Lizzie Dearden

(South Wales Police)

“The algorithms of the law must keep pace with new and emerging technologies.”

That was the call issued by two High Court judges who presided over the world’s first legal challenge against facial recognition technology.

They dismissed claims by Cardiff resident Ed Bridges that police had violated his human rights and data protection laws by scanning him at a protest and while doing his Christmas shopping.