In 2025, Computer Weekly’s coverage of police technology focused heavily on advancements in data-driven technologies like facial recognition and predictive policing. This included stories on the Metropolitan Police’s decision to implement permanent live facial recognition (LFR) cameras in Croydon and the Home Office initiating a consultation on regulations for its use. Reports also discussed the lawfulness and necessity of UK police’s use of such technology.
Additionally, Computer Weekly continued to cover police hyperscale cloud usage, revealing that Microsoft refused to disclose crucial information about data flows to Scottish policing bodies. Efforts to change police data protection rules were also highlighted, raising concerns about potential risks to the UK’s law enforcement data adequacy with the EU.
An investigation uncovered the EU’s law enforcement agency quietly accumulating data for an undisclosed AI development program. This secretive initiative stirred questions about privacy implications and the integration of automated technologies in policing across Europe without adequate oversight.
Furthermore, the article discussed the impact of predictive policing systems on racial profiling and human rights violations. It highlighted the pushback from MPs, such as the proposal to ban predictive policing technologies in the UK. The debate around the use of facial recognition technology by police, especially in areas with higher Black populations, raised concerns about reinforcing discriminatory practices.
Reforms to police data protection rules and the potential implications for UK’s data adequacy with the EU were also addressed. The article emphasized the need for a clear legal framework to regulate facial recognition technology and ensure responsible use by law enforcement agencies.
Overall, Computer Weekly’s in-depth coverage shed light on the evolving landscape of police technology and the complex ethical and legal challenges it poses in the modern digital age.
