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Essex Police Halt Facial Recognition Over Racial Bias Concerns

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Essex Police paused the use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras after a study found bias in identifying black individuals compared with other ethnic groups.
The technology, used since the summer of 2024, will be updated and redeployed with bias monitoring.
Campaign group Big Brother Watch criticized LFR as authoritarian, inaccurate, and ineffective.
The Home Office has announced an increase in LFR vans nationwide.

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Story summary

Essex Police paused the use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras after a study found bias in identifying black individuals compared with other ethnic groups.
The technology, used since the summer of 2024, will be updated and redeployed with bias monitoring.
Campaign group Big Brother Watch criticized LFR as authoritarian, inaccurate, and ineffective.
The Home Office has announced an increase in LFR vans nationwide.