20/05/2026
A 26-year-old British Asian software engineer was arrested at his parents’ home and locked in a police cell for nearly 10 hours after a facial recognition system wrongly identified him as a burglary suspect from 100 miles away.
When officers later reviewed the CCTV properly, it became clear the suspect looked nothing like him.
This is exactly why there needs to be serious discussion around live facial recognition technology.
Most people agree that technology can help policing, locate dangerous offenders and even help find missing persons. But what happens when the system gets it wrong?
Because when it gets it wrong, the consequences are real:
• You can be handcuffed
• Arrested
• Taken into custody
• Have your reputation damaged
• Experience stress, embarrassment and trauma — despite being innocent
The issue is not whether technology should exist. The issue is whether there are proper safeguards, human checks, transparency and accountability before someone loses their liberty.
Rights and protections are not just for guilty people. They are there to protect innocent people from mistakes too.
Technology should assist policing — not replace proper investigation and common sense.
What are your thoughts on live facial recognition being used in public spaces?